Government
BY KATY MCAFEE & BEN THOMPSON
City development programs face rollback Four of Austin’s affordable housing develop- ment programs may soon be voided through a pending decision from a Travis County judge. The details Earlier this year, Austinites who successfully sued the city over a proposed rewrite of how con- struction can take place across town filed another challenge to several City Council-approved affordable development programs. Staff with 200th District Court Judge Jessica Mangrum stated on Nov. 8 that she intends to rule in line with the resident plaintiffs’ request on VMU2, residential in commercial and compatibility on corridors. What’s next The final outcome of the proceedings is still to be determined.
Task force formed to tackle road problems Travis County commissioners are creating a task force to identify what substandard roads in the unincorporated areas of the county need fixing. The details Substandard roads are roads that were built along with a development and are often unpaved. Travis County has over 108 miles of these roads, and aren’t the city or county’s responsibility to fix. What’s next Going from Nov. 2023-Feb. 2024, the task force will explore which roads need to be prioritized and what funding options are available to fix them.
ROLLING BACK BONUSES Residents are calling for the cancellation of the following development bonus programs due to insufficient notice or protest opportunities. Affordability Unlocked , one of Austin’s most prolific development bonus programs that has created thousands of income-restricted housing units since its passage in 2019 VMU2 , an expansion of the vertical mixed- use bonus program that produced hundreds of income-restricted units, approved in spring 2022 “ Residential in commercial ,” an incentive program that allows housing development in commercially zoned areas if affordable units are included, approved in 2022
“ Compatibility on corridors ,” a zoning overlay that waives development restrictions, such as height limits, for new construction along specific roadways and transit routes
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Austin leaders pursue child care property tax relief Austin leaders moved Nov. 9 to cement prop- erty tax relief for child care operators following the passage of Proposition 2, a tax exemption measure Texans approved in the Nov. 7 election. What’s happening Proposition 2’s passage clears the way for Bill 1145 was approved in spring and will go into effect in January 2024, allowing local govern- ments to pursue the tax breaks. Austin’s measure directs city management to come up with a plan to roll out 100% tax
Care center eligibility Proposition 2 allows property tax exemptions for licensed child care operators who:
Participate in Texas Rising Star, a child care quality rating program by the state
exemptions for eligible providers early next year. Council said they are trying to identify similar solutions for home-based providers, which were not included in the state amendment.
Have services for at least 20% of their enrolled children subsidized through the Texas Workforce Commission
eligible child care providers to be exempted from most or all local property tax payments. Senate
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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