Austin City Council approves Phase 2 of HOME Initiative after marathon meeting, cutting minimum lot sizes by two thirds

AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- After one of its longest meetings in recent history, Austin City Council members voted Friday to approve a second phase of the HOME Initiative.

HOME, which stands for Home Options for Middle-Income Empowerment, is a series of changes to the city's Land Development Code. Council members approved a first phase last year, which allowed for more housing units to be built on a single lot.

Friday, council members voted 9-2 to reduce minimum lot sizes from 5,750 square feet down to 1,800 square feet - a reduction of two-thirds.

The proposed changes drew hundreds to City Hall on Thursday. Council members began listening to public comment shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday morning, in a meeting that continued until just after 1 a.m. Friday morning. Council then adjourned until 10 a.m. Friday morning before continuing to listen to public comment and finally voting on the proposed changes.

Council members also approved an Equitable Transit-Oriented Development overlay, which supporters say will help encourage denser development near the proposed Project Connect light rail corridor. That ETOD would block new development of certain types of businesses aimed at single passenger vehicles, like car dealerships, gas stations, and the like.

The approved changes also include some adjustments to the height of new developments related to their distance from single-family lots.

Finally, council members approved a change that will help make building electric vehicle charging stations outside of residential areas slightly easier. Commercial zones located on certain roadway types will now be able to build electric charging stations.