The final piece of the Draft East Riverside Corridor (ERC) Regulating Plan is now available for review, according to Erica Leak of the City of Austin Planning & Development Review Department.

The latest portion of the plan is the ERC Development Bonus (Article 6 of the Draft ERC Regulating Plan), which outlines bonuses that allow developers build at a greater density or height in exchange for fees paid to the city or benefits to the public, such as affordable housing, open space, green building, family-friendly housing, and infrastructure improvements. The East Riverside Corridor is being envisioned as a dense but walkable urban neighborhood that has public transportation, jobs, services and schools within easy access of housing.

According to the staff recommendations, there is likely insufficient demand in the East Riverside area to justify buildings that are taller than what will be allowed in the East Riverside Corridor Regulating Plan, but there might be sufficient demand for buildings under six stories that have greater density. Staff supports requiring on-site affordable housing for shorter residential buildings, and providing an in-lieu fee option for taller buildings. In order to encourage commercial and office projects in this area, staff also recommends that non-residential projects be eligible to pay an in-lieu fee for affordable housing.

To see the draft recommendations, go to the ERC website, or view the PDF at ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/npzd/Austingo/erc_db_recs.pdf. Printed copies are available for review at Ruiz Library, 1600 Grove Blvd., and at the fifth-floor reception desk at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road.

Leak asks citizens to send questions or comments about the draft recommendations to her by Friday, May 25. Following this public comment period, the complete ERC Regulating Plan, including the development bonus program, will be reviewed by the relevant Planning Commission Committees. The plan will then go to the Planning Commission and City Council for public hearings.

You can contact Leak at 974-2856 or erica.leak@austintexas.gov.