An obstructionist's manifesto

Here's the text of a proposed Austin Neighborhoods Council resolution that was circulated today, a sort of obstructionist's manifesto.  ANC wants the city to capitulate to neighorhood groups who want out of VMU zoning until the city holds "open discussions" with them.  ANC's president openly endorsed the VMU standards last summer, of course, touting them as a "bargain" to channel dense development away from neighborhood interiors.  I guess ANC expected the stringent design standards to scare off more development than it has. 

I love the recitals.  My favorite:  ANC condemns the city for fostering sprawl on the city periphery while simultaneously complaining that the city's "pro-density posture . . . imposes a disproportionate impact on established neighborhoods."  ("Established neighorhood" is ANC code for the expensive neighborhoods where most of ANC's executive committe members live.)  These two statements can be reconciled only if you believe that it is the city's job to prop up those already-high central Austin home prices by limiting housing supply even further.

Thanks, ANC, for the steady source of material.

Proposed Resolution of the Austin Neighborhoods Council

Concerning the City of Austin Growth Policies

June 25, 2007

Whereas, the City has embarked on an unwritten policy concerning growth
which has not undergone public discussion or endorsement by its citizens;
and

Whereas, the City has failed to articulate or define long-term goals to be
addressed in its growth policies; and

Whereas, the City has not conducted social, economic and environmental
impact studies to afford a rational basis for such policies; and

Whereas, the City has failed to collaborate with other municipalities and
political entities to pursue legislation that would limit sprawl in
non-incorporated areas in Texas; and

Whereas, efforts to address sprawl by focusing solely on land-use within
incorporated areas will have little effect; and

Whereas, the City has failed to manage density within its own boundaries as
evidenced by allowing developments over the aquifer and allowing new
developments on the periphery with large lots and huge houses; and

Whereas, the city has failed to rationally weigh the impact of its growth
policies so as to assure an equitable balance of gains and losses for all
stakeholders; and

Whereas, the City has failed to utilize transportation modeling technology
that predicts and analyzes the impact of development on transportation
modes; and

Whereas, the city has failed to conduct long-term housing studies that
define the proper affordability mix and quantity of housing; and

Whereas, the lack of such a study undermines the City's policies for
providing housing for its citizenry; and

Whereas, the present, pro-density posture of the City imposes a
disproportionate impact on established neighborhoods; and

Whereas, the City has repeatedly favored dense developments that are
incompatible with the plans of neighborhood planning areas, and

Whereas, the City has repeatedly adopted new zoning tools without conducting
proper beta testing; and

Whereas, the present set of planning tools are inadequate in versatility and
scope to provide neighborhoods with means by which to rationally manage
density, transportation, economic development, housing and preserve and
enhance quality of life; and

Therefore, the Austin Neighborhoods Council urges the City Council and
Planning Commission to approve without exception the recommendations of
neighborhoods and neighborhood planning areas concerning implementation of
the Vertical Mixed-Use Ordinance and postpone all zoning cases entailing
increased density, unless supported by neighborhood plans, until such time
as the City has conducted valid studies and engaged its citizenry in open
discussions that lead to a written growth policy and corresponding planning
tools with which to implement such a policy.

Comments

[The Overhead Wire]

They have no idea what transportation modeling would show them. It's interesting that they are also obstructionist to good transit that would reduce VMT in their neighborhoods. This schizophrenic manifesto just makes me sick to my stomach.

[M1EK]

The response to this nonsense ought to be to immediately strike all neighborhood plans, and repeal McMansion.

[M1EK]

BTW, did not get posted to austinbloggers. Might want to re-ping. I would write a summary and post myself but am stuck in conference room with DSK (see his blog for pictorial proof)

[hlowe]

So does ANC like sprawl and not VMU? They say the city is failing?

Schizophrenic is a good discription of this manifesto.

[BeatrixKiddo]

This is the Laura Morrison campaign plank.

[msanford]

Abysmal, absolutely abysmal.

I heard about this last week and it made me so angry. Their recommendations are completely ridiculous and unrealistic.

My neighborhood, Southwood, voted to opt IN almost the entire periphery of our neighborhood, if the city will allow us to.

[jwx22]

ANC=Austin Never Changes

[Don Johnson]

"Whereas, the lack of such a study undermines the City's policies for
providing housing for its citizenry"

Thinking the city provides housing is the first mistake. In my experience the only thing the city is doing is making housing unaffordable.

[Don Johnson]

"....postpone all zoning cases entailing
increased density, unless supported by neighborhood plans, until such time
as the City has conducted valid studies..."

So everything should be postponed due to lack of study except for those cases supported by neighborhood plans. I remember the neighborhood plan meetings. Everyone sat around arbitrarily downzoning everything in site. I don't recall any studies.