North West Austin Civic Association

VMU

VMU on Far West and at Mesa & Spicewood Springs

Vertical Mixed Use Overlay District (VMU-OD) Opt-In/Opt-Out Process

The City is soliciting the neighborhood's input on the VMU plan. Affected properties in our neighborhood are Far West Boulevard from Mopac to Chimney Corners and Mesa Drive at the intersection of Spicewood Springs Road. VMU is an effort by the city to allow higher density development in return for certain affordable housing set aside and 60% of current parking allowance by code.

The COA has provided a 90-day opt-in/opt-out window, beginning on March 5th, 2007, and ending on June 4th, 2007.

Vertical Mixed Use Information Links

Cosmetology Building, 5717 Balcones Drive

The neighborhood and area businesses submitted a valid petition to deny a complete zoning change to GR (General Retail) on the basis of the high traffic it could generate, and the site having no direct access to a major thoroughfare.

After meetings with ZAP and Council members, and ZAP and Council meetings, the zoning committee, your neighbors and dedicated area business people, were able to restrict the applicant to a limited GR - limited to medical office and hospital limited.  Councilmember McCracken also limited the applicant to 2500 square feet of medical accessory retail only, and a daily vehicle trip count of 1250 per day.  Please thank him personally if you get a chance.

The outcome is good for the neighborhood, considering the building is already existing, but it was a detailed and complex case that took a lot of volunteer time of the NWACA zoning committee members.