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Downtown Report April 2006
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Downtown Austin Plan
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Summary
City staff has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a consultant with extensive experience in urban downtown planning and financial modeling, to assist the City and the community in the creation of a vision for the development of downtown Austin for the next 20 years, and to develop an implementable strategy to achieve that vision.
Status
The RFQ was issued April 10. Responses are due May 19.
Description
On December 15, 2005 the Austin City Council adopted a resolution directing City staff to initiate a planning process for Downtown Austin. The resolution calls for the hiring of a national consultant with downtown expertise to develop the Downtown Austin Plan, working with stakeholders, including but not limited to State, Federal and local government, Capital Metro, downtown neighborhood associations and downtown business groups, affordable housing advocates, parks groups and environmental organizations. The Downtown Austin Plan should be financially feasible, responsive to community goals and market forces, and reflect best practices for creating a vibrant, transit-oriented, mixed use downtown where people live, work and shop. The plan should also incorporate recommendations, as appropriate, from previous plans as well as recommendations that address the changing dynamics of Downtown Austin. Consultant teams should include a diverse team of planners and designers to ensure that the plan reflects local character. As a baseline the Consultant will examine: Environmental and watershed conditions Cultural and historic resources Socio-economic conditions Infrastructure conditions (utilities, drainage) Transportation network connectivity and conditions (streets, sidewalks, bike, transit facilities) Parks and open space Land ownership Land use, zoning, and other applicable regulations Assessment of land available for development or redevelopment in downtown. Included in this assessment will be those factors that limit development Previously conducted plans and studies of downtown including, but not limited to, the R/UDAT Austin Report and subsequent updates. The City and other downtown stakeholder groups will provide this information to the Consultant. The plan is to be comprised of four key parts: 1. Vision for how Downtown Austin should develop in the next 5-20 years continued next page
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2. Recommendations for the Downtown area in the following areas: Development Regulations Development scenarios Where and to what degree increased density is appropriate, including transitions into adjacent neighborhoods Ordinance modernizations, including but not limited to, permitting density bonuses, modifying floor-to-area ratio, maximum building heights and license agreement process, and establishing urban design guidelines and form based related regulations Transportation Transportation and land use should be planned for as two interconnected components that are inextricably linked to one another. Transportation recommendations should include the following items and be based on capacity testing and previously conducted plans and studies, including the Downtown Access and Mobility Plan, the Downtown Parking Plan and Capital Metro’s Future Connections study which currently in process. Traffic circulation – both internal and access to and from downtown Transit connector system – identify right-of-way for passenger rail, dedicated bus thoroughfares and station locations Implementation of Great Streets Redevelopment scenario in the event Interstate Highway 35 is lowered or relocated underground through Downtown Bikeways Pedestrian Circulation Parking Wayfinding Infrastructure Strategy for mitigating flooding and erosion along Waller and Shoal Creeks Assessment of the infrastructure needs required to accommodate the desired vision for downtown and population projections Affordable Housing Strategies and best practices for affordable work force housing in the downtown area Open Space Strategies for preserving and enhancing parks and open space Strategy for Downtown Arts Master Plan Use of government-owned land The Federal government, State of Texas, Travis County and City of Austin are major landowners downtown. Some of this land is undeveloped or underutilized. Program and procedure for the sale and development of government-owned land in the downtown area Financial Modeling Office, housing, retail, and hotel development potential Costs and benefits related to implementing the plan’s recommendations continued next page
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3.
Station Area Plan for the Convention Center Transit Oriented Development and possibly one additional station area plan for the soon-to-be designated Seaholm Transit Oriented Development Future land use and development scenarios A regulating plan or similar development code to be adopted as part of the station area plan, including recommended site development standards and urban design guidelines Incorporate recommendations for achieving affordable housing goals as outlined in the TOD ordinance. These recommendations are being prepared by another consultant and will be provided to the Consultant selected for this project. Transportation analysis and improvements plan (streets, sidewalks, bike, transit facilities, operations and services) Open space and streetscape improvement plan Infrastructure improvements to support future development Parking analysis Financial analysis including potential incentives or financing tools and recommendations for preferred approach Implementation strategy Strategy and implementation framework for achieving the vision of the plan, including recommended funding mechanisms for implementing infrastructure improvements. Recommendations should be based in part on the cost benefits created by implementing the development potential and when the recommendations are proposed for implementation - short term (2-5 years), or long term (5-20 years)
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Basic Data
Project Manager: Project Contact:
Adam Smith, Principal Planner, City of Austin, Neighborhood Planning & Zoning Department, 974-7685 Michael Knox, Principal Planner, City of Austin, Economic Growth & Redevelopment Services Office, 974-6415
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