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Staff previews joint Planning Commission–City Council hearing, flags life‑science and Senate Bill 840 updates
Summary
Austin Planning staff told the commission a joint public hearing with City Council will present staff‑proposed code amendments — adding a life‑science land use, updates tied to Senate Bill 840, a new tobacco sales land use, and moving some non‑zoning rules out of code section 25.2 — with no direct action at that joint hearing.
Eric Thomas, speaking for Austin Planning, told the Planning Commission staff is planning a joint public hearing with City Council early next year to present a set of code amendments and take public testimony; no action will be taken at that joint hearing.
"For this type of meeting, we're required to send citywide notice, including the date and time of the meeting," Thomas said, warning that notice to every property owner and utility account owner is costly and that staff needs commissioners' availability to set a date. He said commissioners can attend virtually but the chair must be in person, and virtual commissioners must keep their cameras on for the duration of the meeting.
Thomas summarized the substantial amendments staff intends to present: adding a life‑science land use to the land development code; making land development code updates related to Senate Bill 840; establishing a new tobacco sales land use; and relocating certain non‑zoning regulations out of code section 25.2. Staff also explained the meeting format: staff presentations, public testimony, and questions from commission and council, with no action at the joint hearing and later dates indicated for when action can be taken.
Next steps: staff asked commissioners to send availability to schedulers (Ella and Destiny) by the stated deadline so staff can finalize the joint hearing date and provide required citywide notice.
