1. Imagine Austin
Comprehensive Plan
Community Forum
Series #2
April 27, 28, May 1, 2010

2. Community Forum #2 - Agenda
• Comprehensive Plan Refresher
• Planning Process Overview
• Trends Affecting Austin’s Future
• Articulating the Vision
• Draft Vision Statement Components
• Today’s Activities
• Imagine Austin Chip Exercise
• Visualizing Land Use and Density

3. Comprehensive Plan Refresher
What the Comprehensive Plan is
• An expression of the community’s shared
values, aspirations, and vision for the future
• The policy foundation for decision-making to
proactively manage growth and change
• The City’s “to-do” list defining an action
program and priorities to be implemented
over time

4. Comprehensive Plan Refresher
City Council’s Three Goals
• Community Engagement
• Broad public engagement
• Values and aspirations of Austin’s community
• Sustainability
• Specifically for Austin
• Future environment, economy, and community
• Implementation
• Strategic focus on implementation
• Realistic action agenda and measure progress

5. Comprehensive Plan Refresher
Why is the Plan important to residents?
• How can Austin be better for you and your
family over the next 5, 10, 20, and 30 years?
• How can it improve quality of life (e.g., parks,
schools, jobs, transit, waking, and biking)?
• What short-term steps can be taken to achieve
this?
• What longer-term strategies can make Austin a
great city for the next generation?
• What we hear from you will directly inform the
Plan’s vision, goals, strategies, and actions.

6. Planning Process Overview
Imagine Austin Schedule
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
Plan Kickoff Vision and Plan Framework Comprehensive Plan Document
1. Project Orientation and 1. Articulating the Vision 1. Draft Plan Development
Design
Community Forum Series #1 Community Forum Series #4
Public Participation Plan (Nov. 2009) (Winter 2011)
2. Project Kickoff and 2. Dynamics of Change 2. Plan Adoption
Follow-up
Community Forum Series #2 Public Hearings
Comprehensive Plan Open (April/May 2010)
House (Sep. 2009) City Council Adoption
3. Plan Framework
Community Forum Series #3
(Fall 2010)
Aug. – Oct. 2009 Nov. 2009 – Dec. 2010 Jan. 2011 - 2012

7. Trends Affecting Austin’s Future
Demographic and Population Trends
• Annual population growth of 3-4% Population Trends and Projections
(1950-2000).
• Recent growth (2000-2010) is
occurring at a slightly slower pace
and mostly at the edges of City.
• Regional population is projected to
grow at rates higher than the City of
Austin over the next 20 years.
• Undeveloped land in the ETJ is
seeing increased development
pressure following the completion of Source: U.S. Census Bureau and City of Austin
SH130 and other developments.
• Projected increase of approximately
750,000 people and 300,000 jobs in
the City of Austin and the ETJ by
2040.

8. Trends Affecting Austin’s Future
Land Consumption and Redevelopment
• About 46% of rangeland was converted
to urban uses from 1983-2000 (in MSA).
• Developed areas increased, while
agriculture, rangeland, and forested land
use decreased.
• Recent demolition permits show
significant redevelopment in Austin.
• GIS analysis shows that there continues to
be potential for more redevelopment
and infill (e.g., along low-density
commercial corridors including Burnet Rd,
Airport Blvd) in Austin.

9. Trends Affecting Austin’s Future
Housing and Income
• Housing prices have increased
significantly over the last ten years, while
household incomes have remained
stagnant or declined.
• This trend is more prevalent in Hispanic
and African-American households,
compared with the overall population.
• The rise in housing prices vs. incomes over
the past 10 years is creating an affordable
housing gap:
• Only 28% of single-family homes are
affordable to households earning
80% of the MFI, compared with 42%
in 1998.
Sources: HUD, Comprehensive Housing Market Study
(2007), Census (2000-2007).

10. Trends Affecting Austin’s Future
Transportation and Economic Trends
Austin’s Transportation Mode Split (2008)
• While transit use is increasing,
automobiles remain the dominant
travel mode the region.
• New high-tech focus is emerging:
medical/life science, clean energy
(Mueller smart-grid) creative tech
(gaming, media), data centers, and
professional services.
• National forecasts indicated that
Austin will be one of the first metro
areas to recover from the recession
(Forbes, MSNBC, Moody’s).

11. Articulating the Vision
Public Input
• Over 6,800 residents participated
• November Forum, Meetings-in-a-Box,
Online and Paper Surveys, Statistically
Valid Survey
• Task Force used input to begin drafting
vision (March Vision Workshop)
• Draft Vision reviewed by Task Force (April)
• Public review today through June, followed
by review by Plan Commission and City
Council

12. Articulating the Vision
Statistically Valid Survey – Top Strengths
• Arts, music, and cultural amenities (79%)
• University of Texas (76%)
• State Capital (75%)
• Unique local identity (74%)
• Parks and Open Space (73%)
Potential Areas - Growth and Development
• Near public transit stations and routes (56%)
• Centers outside of downtown (50%)
• Along roadway corridors (43%)

13. Articulating the Vision
Statistically Valid Survey – Future Vision
• Quality public schools (38%)
• Affordable tax rate (32%)
• Affordable housing (28%)
• High paying jobs (27%)
Capital Improvements Allocation ($100)
• Improve the transportation system ($25)
• Health and human services ($21)
• Repair infrastructure ($16)
• Public safety facilities ($13)

14. Articulating the Vision
Online Surveys, CF#1, Meetings-in-a-Box:
Top Ideas for the Future
• Improve public transit system
• Reduce roadway congestion
• Protect the environment
• Leader in sustainability
• Diverse, unique neighborhoods
• Dense, compact city
• Predicable planning process and goals
• Engaged citizens, participation

15. Draft Vision Statement Components
Opening Statement:
On its 200th anniversary (2039), Austin is recognized worldwide for its
• exceptional livability and vibrant creativity;
• its leadership in the arts, education and technology;
• and its commitment to environmental responsibility, economic
opportunity, and social equity.
Through the efforts of our engaged community working in collaboration with
local government, civic organizations, and businesses, we maintain an
outstanding and fertile environment in which to nurture the next generation of
proud Austinites.
The Austin we Love is…

16. Draft Vision Statement Components
The Austin we Love is:
• Livable …See the Vision Survey, provide comments
• Prosperous
• Natural and Sustainable
• Functional and Accessible
• Caring and Committed
• Stimulating and Creative
Draft Vision “Word Cloud”

17. Today’s Activities
Review of Draft Vision Statement Components
• Stations around the room
Imagine Austin Chip Exercise
• This is your opportunity to create a future plan for Austin!
• Group will use the CHIPS AND MARKERS to create a GROWTH CONCEPT MAP
• Provides a GENERAL guide for development/preservation, not a Future Land Use Map
• Group results will be used to develop three alterative scenarios (vote in Fall 2010)

18. Imagine Austin Chip Exercise
Develop a Future Scenario for Austin
• Population and employment are projected to grow over the next 30 yrs
Population Projection Employment Projection
+750,000 +300,000
new residents new jobs
(+ 1.9 % Per Year) (+ 1.5 – 1.3% Per Year)
in Austin and ETJ 2010 – 2039 Based on City of Austin projections

19. Imagine Austin Chip Exercise
Develop a Future Scenario for Austin
Step 1 Open Space
• Indicate major areas that should be set aside and protected as open space / natural areas
Step 2 Land Use
• Discuss land use chips
• Set currently on the table reflects current land use trends
• Consider implications of land use decisions on transportation, the environment, and
sustainability
• Trade chips into banker to change land use trends
• Trading examples
• Trade low density for high density residential to reduce development footprint
• Trade residential and commercial for mixed use to achieve greater compactness
• Place chips on map
• A chip on an undeveloped area represents greenfield development
• A chip on an existing use represents infill/redevelopment
Step 3 Transportation
• Place transportation chips to serve land use patterns

20. Imagine Austin Chip Exercise
Existing Base Map

21. Visualizing Land Use and Density
Mixed Use Transportation
Residential Open Space
Commercial Industrial
1 mi2
1 mi

22. Visualizing Land Use and Density
Mixed Use
• Regional urban hub
• Highest densities of jobs and people
• Highly walkable
• Supports high-capacity transit
• Residential mostly high rise
• Includes full spectrum of employment
opportunities
• Significant collection of commercial
uses and residences
• Supports high-capacity transit
• Residential includes townhouses, row
houses, and multifamily
• Includes offices and community-
serving retail

23. Visualizing Land Use and Density
Mixed Use
• Local focus
• Highly walkable
• Supports transit
• Moderately dense residential includes
small-lot single family, duplexes,
townhouses, and apartments
• Commercial focus on local retail,
services, and entertainment
• Similar to Neighborhood Center, but
linear

24. Visualizing Land Use and Density
30,000 people and 10,000 jobs can be accommodated with
1 Regional Center + 2 Town Centers
4 Neighborhood Centers 4 Mixed Use Corridors

25. Visualizing Land Use and Density
Predominantly Residential
• Large and small apartment complexes
• Incidental convenience shopping
• Local examples include:
• East Riverside Drive
• Far West Boulevard/Greystone Drive
• East Stassney Lane/Little Texas Lane
• Primarily single-family houses, with
small number of duplexes and
medium-sized apartment complexes
• Incidental convenience shopping
• Local examples include:
• Most of the established neighborhoods
in Austin

26. Visualizing Land Use and Density
Predominantly Residential
• Single-family housing on very large
lots
• Local examples include:
• Newer developments
• Houses located on the edges of Austin
• Single-family housing on very large
lots (2 acres or larger)
• Local examples include:
• Areas with a rural feel
• Houses located on the edges of Austin or
in the county

27. Visualizing Land Use and Density
15,000 people can be accommodated with
1 High Density Residential 3 Medium Density Residential 6 Low Density Residential
30 Very Low Density Residential

28. Visualizing Land Use and Density
Predominantly Commercial
• Uses include stores and services
(shopping, dry cleaning, daycare)
• Often isolated from residential areas
• Most easily accessible by car
• Local examples include:
• Lakeline Mall area
• Tech Ridge
• South Park Meadows
• Includes major employment centers
• Dominated by offices
• Local examples include:
• Area around IBM in North Austin
• Medical district around Seton in Central
Austin

29. Visualizing Land Use and Density
Predominantly Industrial
• Includes major employment centers
• Characterized by warehouses, offices,
and manufacturing
• Most easily accessible by car
• Local examples include:
• Along Burnett Road north of US 183
• Southeast of Ben White Boulevard and
IH-35
• Along St Elmo Road between South
Congress Avenue and IH-35

30. Visualizing Land Use and Density
2,500 jobs can be accommodated with
1 Retail/Services 1 Office 1 Industry

31. Visualizing Land Use and Density
Mixed Use Equivalents (other combinations possible)
=
=
=

32. Visualizing Land Use and Density
Transportation

33. Visualizing Land Use and Density
Transportation

34. Group Exercise
Considerations: Transportation
• Higher densities support more robust transit service
• Rules of Thumb
• 16 people/acre can support transit every 30 minutes
• 30-50 people/acre can support transit every 10 minutes
• 85 people/acre can support intensified transit

35. Group Exercise
Considerations: Cost of Providing Infrastructure
• Cost of infrastructure decreases as
density increases
• Serving close-in infill
development costs less than
outlying greenfield development
• Redevelopment/infill require
higher densities, infrastructure
upgrades
The Costs of Alternative Development Patterns: A Review of the Literature. Frank, James E.Washington, DC: The Urban Land Institute.

36. Group Exercise
Considerations: Environment
Runoff by Density
• Development is limited in 20000
sensitive environmental areas 18000
(e.g., floodplain, Barton Springs 16000
Watershed, steep slopes)
Runoff per dwelling unit (ft3/year)
14000
• Stormwater runoff per unit 12000
decreases as density increases 10000
• Mobile sources contribute to over 8000
60% of Austin’s air pollution
6000
problem
4000
2000
0
0 4 8 12
Dwelling units per acre
Protecting Water Resources with Higher‐Density Development, US EPA 2006. 12
du/acre value extrapolated

37. Group Exercise
Questions to Consider
• What areas should be preserved? Where should new open space be located?
• Where should new growth go in the region? Where should people and jobs be?
• How will we plan for increased travel within the region? How will people get around?
• How should the cost of providing services and environmental impacts affect
development patterns?
Available Map Resources
• Austin Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan • Future Road Projects
• Capital Metro All Systems Go • Know Your Watershed
Long Range Transit Plan (2025) • 2007 Employees per Acre
• Central Texas Greenprint for Growth • 2009 Bike and Pedestrian Plan
• Envision Central Texas Vision Map • 2009 Combined Future Land Use Map
• Existing and Potential Trails and Greenways

38. Imagine Austin Chip Exercise
Develop a Future Scenario for Austin
Step 1 Open Space
• Indicate major areas that should be set aside and protected as open space / natural areas
Step 2 Land Use
• Discuss land use chips
• Set currently on the table reflects current land use trends
• Consider implications of land use decisions on transportation, the environment, and
sustainability
• Trade chips into banker to change land use trends
• Trading examples
• Trade low density for high density residential to reduce development footprint
• Trade residential and commercial for mixed use to achieve greater compactness
• Place chips on map
• A chip on an undeveloped area represents greenfield development
• A chip on an existing use represents infill/redevelopment
Step 3 Transportation
• Place transportation chips to serve land use patterns