AUSTIN, Texas — This week, Austinites can weigh in on some big proposed zoning changes that are aimed at boosting housing density in the city. But some worry that these changes aren't sustainable.
This is all part of the city's "Home Options for Middle-income Empowerment," or "HOME," initiative. It would allow up to three units on one single-family lot and would remove restrictions on how many adults can live in a home.
Supporters say it could help make housing more affordable, but opponents say it'll destroy single-family neighborhoods.
"We haven't allowed for little changes in our single-family zone neighborhoods in far too long, which is why only a small fraction of Austinites can actually afford that housing type," said Greg Anderson, the director of community affairs for Austin Habitat for Humanity.
Anderson said the HOME Initiative could solve a lot of problems.
"Phase one only looks to allow for three homes per single-family lot. It's really gentle. It's a minor, little change, but it will go a long way in allowing for smaller housing types to be built in Austin's neighborhoods," said Anderson.
City council members approved the first piece of this in July. Now, the city manager is laying out the actual zoning changes that come along with it.
But groups like Community Not Commodity say this could be the beginning of the end for single-family neighborhoods.
"A 7,500 square foot lot with one home on it today could be subdivided into three smaller lots. In each of those smaller lots it could then have three units on each lot," said Ana Aguirre, the president of the Austin Neighborhood Council.
Another concern is that these changes could harm the environment and put too much stress on city systems.
"This will be a major concern for our neighborhoods when we know there are multiple critical infrastructure issues that have not been addressed," said Aguirre.
But Anderson said this could go a long way to boost housing supply.
"Right now, if you want to build a $3 million home in Austin, it's pretty easy to do so. But when you want to build smaller, more efficient homes that are more affordable to a broader range of income earners, it's really difficult, even illegal," said Anderson.
The city council will take its first round of public comment on this on Thursday, Oct. 26, and city staff plan to host an open house on Nov. 6 to go more in depth about all the changes.
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