Property rezoning approved

Published 6:00 am Thursday, June 19, 2008

A half-block of property rezoned on Third Street Southeast will make for a twinhome developed by the Salvation Army, which plans on using the attached houses as an adult care facility, as well as future residential development.

City council members approved the request Monday, changing the property, located on 300 block of the street, from an industrial district to a multi-family office district.

Community development director Craig Hoium said the zoning change satisfies several outcomes for the city: first, it allows the Salvation Army to build; second, it meets zoning recommendations by consultant Yaggy Colby for several updates to Austin comprehensive plan as well as the existing land-use map proposed as part of the plan.

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“The current designation as…a high density residential area is in compliance,” Hoium said. The property was previously zoned industrial because of an obsolete railroad that split through that region of the city.

He added that the lot, spanning from First to Third Avenues, would be split into four parcels, which would all be bought by the Salvation Army.

“The building would be located on two tracks,” Hoium said. “The rest would be for future residential development — most likely a twin home.”

The building proposed will consist of two connected residences, designed initially to accommodate eight adults in a group-home setting. Hoium said the developer must still meet all development standards outlined by the the planning commission, which unanimously approved rezoning June 10.

Council member Dick Pacholl, 2nd Ward, asked whether the development would affect an residential garage accessed through an alleyway on property.

Hoium said no.

“The development would not conflict with any of those easements to the west,” he said. Hoium said during the Tuesday planning commission meeting that some accommodations would have to be made for on-street parking.