City planning staff outline major University Neighborhood Overlay changes that would raise heights near UT; commissioners voice preservation concerns

City planning staff on April 2 briefed the Historic Landmark Commission on proposed Land Development Code amendments to the University Neighborhood Overlay, a voluntary zoning incentive aimed at increasing housing capacity around the University of Texas at Austin.

Alan Piney, principal planner with the Planning Department, told the commission the UNO program -- established in 2004 -- is being updated to expand boundaries and create three new subdistricts with larger height limits to support higher-density, transit-oriented development. “For background on UNO, it was established in 02/2004. It's the University Neighborhood Overlay,” Piney said.

The changes are intended to increase housing supply and quality, support light rail investments and add tenant protections, city staff said. The Planning Department presented proposed new zoning standards, a draft menu of community benefits, altered parking rules and affordability requirements intended to apply to developments that opt into the voluntary overlay.

Staff said the proposal would create three subdistricts with different maximum heights: Transit Core (up to 600 feet), Inner West (up to 420 feet) and Outer West (up to 90 feet). The proposal would expand UNO boundaries to include adjacent commercial and multifamily parcels, and would make participation voluntary; property owners would have to opt in through a rezoning process that includes Planning Commission and City Council hearings.

Key proposed changes described by staff - Height and subdistricts: Transit Core (600…