Austin City Council approved a proposal on Thursday to overhaul the city's strict compatibility laws.
, development has grown significantly in past years. Skyscrapers seem to appear every other week downtown, and new construction of sprawling suburban developments is almost constant. But in between the extremes of steel-beamed towers and cookie-cutter carports, there’s been a void.
"[Compatibility rules] are inherently regressive," said David Fouts, member of the Zoning and Platting Commission, during a public comment. "They treat low income renters and buildings as hazards that we have to protect for more affluent people." in Austin's current code of ordinances. "[This ensures] that new construction and additions are compatible in scale and bulk with existing neighborhoods."
Thursday’s city council meeting, however, brought a change to compatibility standards. An item introduced by Council Member José ''Chito'' Vela initiated a set of compatibility reforms, with recommended changes bringing compatibility limits down from a current maximum of 540 ft to 100 ft or less.
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