CodeNEXT Sound Check is a series of 14 public events taking place the week of Nov. 16-21.
The CodeNEXT team and consultants, who have been busy drafting Austin’s new land development code, will be “testing” how the code would apply to various neighborhoods in Austin and sharing the results.
The events include live music, “brown bag” presentations, pin-ups, performance art, and more.
It’s important that our voices of inclusion are heard at these events. If each of our members committed to attending just one event, we’d have great representation. Check out and RSVP for at least one event here.
Please also share on social media and with your neighbors.
I’ve signed up for a few as well. Does anyone know if the format for the pin ups will be open house style or should we plan on arriving exactly on time?
Here is my understanding how the Sound Check will work, & what our priorities should be based on earlier discussion with Staff. I will confirm / correct each point with them.
(1) The place to comment on / influence potential policy is at the three “pin-up” sessions - much more so than anything we have participated in to date!!! Every day the specialists will model different scenarios for each of the 7 “example” areas being studied (the locations where the recent walks were held). Every day they will pin-up their new work for public comment. I would suggest if you can only go to three sessions (or less) that these three be the priority. Natalie - believe it is open house vs. mandatory start time, & will confirm / clarify.
(2) The second most important events to attend are the opening & closing ceremonies, I would suggest in that order, as the opening ceremony will set the plate for all to follow.
(2b) If you are not familiar with the 7 areas, or those most of interest to your situation, you may consider trying to. I participated in 2 walks, surveyed extensively a 3rd area - not required, but will help make better informed recommendations. “Extra credit” since attendance at the walks was fairly light, this could potentially separate your feedback above the fray (or not).
(3) The “brown bag education sessions” are for you to learn, more than to comment on / influence potential policy.
(4) The “open studio” time is an opportunity to see how the specialists do their modeling work. I don’t think there is value in attending more than one, so will do the first.
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Please forgive the duplicate posting - we have two sound check discussions currently live.
The pin up sessions are not meant to be a means to influence policy but rather, to provide a platform by which to provide commentary on the concepts being tested. We will not be modeling different scenarios for each focus area but you may see an evolution of various code standards throughout the week. Keep in mind this is a learning exercise for our team as well as the public and not a platform to influence policy. Policy has been set by Council: implement Imagine Austin.
We really need to make sure we have FANs at all of the sessions, or as many as possible. I’m thinking about creating a Google Doc sign-up sheet for FAN so we can see who’s going when and strategize. Do you guys think that would be a good idea?
Review and inspect the draft Transect Zones Matrix.
Learn with the CodeNEXT team how calibrating development standards – such as land uses, parking, neighborhood compatibility, density levels, and water quality – impacts physical places in Austin and requires a delicate balance of public values. What are the possible outcomes? Tell us what you think of the results.
All of the festivities will take place at the Linc (Suite #2850A), located on 6406 N. I-35 Frontage Road / Middle Fiskville Road (near Chase Bank).
As we gear up to test development concepts on the ground during next week’s CodeNEXT Sound Check ( http://codenextsoundcheck.eventbrite.com/ ) , folks in the community have asked for us to share documents in advance.
It is important to note that CodeNEXT is not starting from zero in terms of public engagement and input. CodeNEXT is founded on (and was in fact initiated by) Imagine Austin ( http://www.austintexas.gov/department/about-imagine-austin ) – a three-year process that included extensive and award-winning public engagement. Second, the first two years of the project were devoted to listening to the community and diagnosing the existing Land Development Code. We are now in the phase of the project where we are taking that five years’ worth of public engagement and drafting a code reflective of Imagine Austin, best practices, and the input of the community.
We also will be consulting other key documents such as neighborhood plans.
Here are some things that do not yet exist:
A draft land development code for public review. This will be ready fall 2016.
Renderings of development studies. We may create some during the Sound Check, but we don’t have any now.
New zoning maps. “Mapping,” the process of applying the new zoning tools to areas of the city, will occur later in the process
We anticipate releasing a full draft of the new Land Development Code in the fall of 2016. The public will then have multiple opportunities, venues, and methods to review the full contents of the code and provide feedback to staff. The CodeNEXT team will ensure that the public has adequate time to digest the code and offer specific comments on its content and outcomes.
We encourage and highly value public participation, and are working to ensure that the new code reflects Austin’s culture and values.
