In July, FAN passed a resolution urging City Council to make it easier to build backyard cottages in Austin. Yesterday, on a 7-4 vote, Austin adopted new rules for ADUs. Here are the changes:
ADUs are now allowed on any SF-3 zoned lots at least 5,750 square feet, citywide
The maximum size of an ADU increased to 1,100 square feet or 0.15 floor-to-area ratio, whichever is smaller. The previous max was 850 square feet.
Reduce building separation to 10 feet between ADU and primary structure
Allows that an entry to be within 10 feet from a property line
Removed driveway requirement to access an ADU
Provide one parking space for the ADU in addition to main structure parking, unless it is located within 1/4 mile of an activity corridor identified in the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan.
Voting in favor: Adler, Garza, Renteria, Casar, Gallo, Troxclair and Zimmerman
Voting against: Tovo, Kitchen, Pool and Houston
Can everyone post the following (or something similar) on their NextDoor and neighborhood Yahoo Groups to get more members for FAN? Please message here if you post this or something else somewhere!
Subject: Your Voice and Your Vote Mattered: Backyard Cottages aka ADUs Now Allowed City Wide!
Your voice and your vote mattered. In July 2015 Friends of Austin Neighborhoods held one of the first inclusive city wide votes in Austin that allowed everyone to easily to participate (http://www.atxfriends.org/general/fan-adu-resolution-passes/). The vote was in favor of easing restrictions on accessory dwelling units (granny flats, secondary apartments, garage apartments). Since then, Friends of Austin Neighborhoods members have been meeting with city officials, providing testimony at city meetings, and working to make your voice heard. After a year and half of debate, the City Council voted yesterday to make it easier for people to build a second unit on their property. These units provide more needed housing for renters, provide flexible housing for family members that need care, allow more diversity in our neighborhoods of varying income levels and ethnicities, and help homeowners continue to afford to live in central Austin with their increasing property taxes.
The following changes were made regarding ADUs:
ADUs are now allowed on any SF-3 zoned lots at least 5,750 square feet, citywide
The maximum size of an ADU increased to 1,100 square feet or 0.15 floor-to-area ratio, whichever is smaller. The previous max was 850 square feet.
Reduce building separation to 10 feet between ADU and primary structure
Allows that an entry to be within 10 feet from a property line
Removed driveway requirement to access an ADU
Provide one parking space for the ADU in addition to main structure parking, unless it is located within 1/4 mile of an activity corridor identified in the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan.
Voting in Friends of Austin Neighborhood votes can make a difference. There’s still a lot we can do to improve our city, but we can only do that with your help. Please join Friends of Austin Neighborhood at the link below. It’s free and easy to join. Voting is online so participation is easy.
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We’d like to thank the following council members for listening to the majority of Austin that wants to make Austin more affordable, provide more housing choices for Austinites, improve the quality of life in our changing neighborhoods, and make planning decisions that are best for the entire city.
Mayor Adler
Council Member Garza
Council Member Renteria
Council Member Casar
Council Member Gallo
Council Member Troxclair
Council Member Zimmerman
Council Members that voted against ADUs: Tovo, Pool, Kitchen, and Houston
Hooray for progress! My Garage apartment was built in 1950, but would have been illegal under the old rules because my lot wasn’t 7000 sqft. I’m happy to see that other people in my situation can build ADUs to offset their household expenses and add to the supply of smaller, more affordable housing types within our established neighborhoods.