Planning commission approves Far West multifamily rezoning with DB 90 density bonus

The Austin Planning Commission on Feb. 18 approved a rezoning request for a 10-acre property on Hart Lane in the Far West area, allowing the site to proceed under the city's DB 90 density bonus program. The commission voted 7-1 to support staff's recommendation to rezone the property from MF-3 (multifamily medium density) to GR-CO-DB 90 (community commercial vertical mixed-use, conditional overlay, density bonus 90), with the conditional overlay prohibiting certain commercial uses listed in the staff report.

The rezoning affects a site currently developed with three multifamily buildings totaling about 290 units. Staff and the applicant said the rezoning would allow redevelopment into approximately 650 to 700 residential units and add roughly 78 to 84 income-restricted units under the DB 90 program.

Staff recommended GR-CO-DB 90 because the request aligns with city policy favoring additional residential density and incentives for affordability in Imagine Austin centers. Michael Whalen, who identified…