"In multifamily zoning, you often have huge concentrations of people and you are not guaranteed that there are any services," Commissioner Lonny Stern said. "You can see this anywhere you have apartment complexes where there are literally hundreds of units and nothing on their first floor unless they are directly on (an Imagine Austin) corridor. We can easily change this by saying that you don't need to have mixed-use as your designation in order to provide some sort of services to people who live in these communities."
The commission said the initiative aligns with the city's goals outlined in the Imagine Austin Plan, which advocates for a compact, connected city and greater access to local businesses and services, especially in underserved areas.
The proposed changes would allow businesses such as food sales, general retail, personal services and limited restaurants in multifamily zoning areas, as well as conditional uses in single-family zones. However, drive-through services would be prohibited in these residential areas due to concerns over noise and traffic.
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