Austin planning staff outline Imagine Austin update, target adoption in 2028

Chris Ryerson, division manager with Austin Planning, told the Downtown Commission on April 15 that staff have begun an early‑stage update of the Imagine Austin comprehensive plan and are prioritizing a citywide place‑types map and a set of priority programs to guide implementation.

"We are both with Austin Planning, and we're here tonight to brief you on the early stages of updating the Imagine Austin comprehensive plan," Ryerson said, describing why an update is timely after about 14 years since the plan's 2012 adoption.

Ryerson said the department rescoped consultant work after a November council budget decision that reduced project funds. "The resolution to update Imagine Austin was approved in August... In November, council reallocated about half of our budget," staff said, and consultants were asked to focus on deliverables where outside expertise was most needed, principally the place‑types map.

Staff described the project structure: an Imagine Austin community working group of 45 members (selected from roughly 360 applicants) will meet about six times from spring 2026 into 2027; an interagency technical advisory group (ITAC) of city staff and local agencies will advise policy alignment; and the existing conditions report is expected this summer. Ryerson said the update aims to streamline the plan so users can more clearly follow vision → goals → priority programs → implementation.

Commissioners asked how the Imagine Austin update will interact with the Central City District plan, which is producing a draft this November. Ryerson said the two efforts will influence one another: "It'll be a little of each — anything that we're hearing from the community... can be reflected in the Central City District plan as we have time to write that in," he said, and noted the place types palette is being developed so the Central City District plan can be an early adopter of those place types.

Commissioners also asked for transparency about the consultant team and the final working‑group roster; a commissioner requested that staff provide the names of the consulting team and the 45 selected members. Ryerson said staff will share that information and noted that the selection process used a rubric and a seven‑department evaluation committee to try to align the working group with city demographics.

Next steps: staff said they expect to run an internal policy workshop in September to refine priorities, continue citywide external engagement through community meetings, and pursue a two‑year update process that supports proposed adoption in 2028.