While the City of Austin’s new design standards aim to foster the creation of dense, affordable and walkable transportation corridors, the reality is that our city code creates inherent conflicts as shown by what is possible when complying with current regulations. Unfortunately the result is not the realization of our vision of shaded retail storefronts with lofts above lining the street. Our city code applied to the shallow lots on this stretch of Burnet Rd. allows for the construction of buildings only slightly more dense than today (and sometimes less) - hardly an incentive for property owners to develop existing buildings with new housing, offices and retail. Only a few deep lots have the capacity to support infill growth. Usually that’s where the development debate begins. The relationship between what we can do, what we should do and will do is worth our time and effort as we address the complexities of place making, health, pollution, congestion, community building and economic growth.
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