Purpose:
The NSCNA development committee is actively involved in working with neighboring residential and business developments to find a balance between our neighborhood quality of life and the needs of the developer community and economy. We know we can’t control everything that happens around our neighborhood. However, by working together with the city and developers, we have a much better chance of finding common ground and creating a place where we all will be proud to live, work and play.
If you would like to be involved in what’s happening now with our neighborhood and what will be happening in our future, please join us. Please contact DevelopmentChair@nscna.org with any questions, or if you are interested in joining this committee.
What do we see as important quality of life issues?
- How through traffic affects our streets
- The impact certain businesses may have on crime
- Issues related to businesses that may back up to single residential housing
- Ensuring that walkability is raised as a key issue as our neighborhood develops
- The overall impact each business will have on our neighborhood
What do we do?
- Negotiate with the Planning Commission, the City of Austin and developers
- Meet with our neighbors to better understand and communicate their needs
- Serve as a liaison between NSCNA and business developers
2018 North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan and Future Land Use Map (FLUM)
From 2016 to 2018, our neighborhood worked with the City of Austin to develop the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan, adopted by City Council on August 23, 2018. The neighborhood plan is a working document designed to assist stakeholders in improving and maintaining the quality of life in the community. The plan outlines shared policies for spending, regulations, land use decisions and zoning changes in the North Shoal Creek neighborhood. At the core of the plan is the Future Land Use Map (FLUM), a parcel-level land map illustrating how the plan’s vision for each place in North Shoal Creek should evolve or be preserved. The FLUM is the plan’s primary land use decision-making tool and it balances the desires and rights of diverse stakeholders while implementing adopted City policies. Although it guides land use decisions, the FLUM is not a zoning map. When used for land use decisions, it should be used in conjunction with other plan elements to guide decisions on proposed zoning and development cases as well as the application of new development regulations.
The North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan Contact Team is the main group responsible for coordinating with applicable City of Austin departments, the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Association, and other groups to prioritize and implement the plan’s recommendations. The NSC Contact Team is a separate organization from North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Association with its own by-laws and membership, but it maintains close correspondence with the NSCNA development committee.
For more information about the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan Contact Team, or to join, email nsccontactteam@gmail.com
North Shoal Creek Future Land Use Map (FLUM), 2018
North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan Implementation Chart, last updated 9/1/2020
North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan Contact Team By-Laws, 2018
City of Austin Neighborhood Plans and Resources
Past Projects That Have Impacted Our Neighborhood:
- 8100 Burnet Road
- VMU Opt-In/Opt-Out Process
- Village Shopping Center Redevelopment
- BMC Building Supply property sale/use
- The Domain Phase II
- Austin-San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District (SA to Georgetown)
- Crestview Station
- 2620 W. Anderson Ln (Old Post Office)
Development Resources:
- City of Austin Development Process and One-Stop Shop (OSS)
- General Information re: Development Process
- Development Review Permitting and Inspection — On this Web site, search for information on land development cases, residential and commercial building plan reviews, permits and inspections; or conduct development business with the City.
- Very Brief Summary of the Development Projects Process — There are four major steps to the development process in the City of Austin. Applications for a project may be filed concurrently but they must be approved in the following order: 1) zoning 2) subdivision 3) site plan and 4) building permit. When the above work is in compliance with the approvals granted, as indicated by the inspection process, a certificate of occupancy may be granted. (Please note that not all steps may be applicable to a particular project).
- More Complete Development Process Description (will upload Word doc)
- Development Assistance Center
- Neighborhood Assistance Center
- Development Case Number Guide
Other Useful Resources:
- City of Austin Boards and Commissions Center
- Public Records Access – Online Document Search
- Austin Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Map viewer – Find Zoning and Other Geographic Information. You can see streets, subdivisions, zoning maps, jurisdictional boundaries, floodplain locations, watershed boundaries and their classifications. This site also provides the information behind the maps. For instance, you can zoom into a particular area of town and query the registered neighborhood organizations with their contact people including addresses and phone numbers.
- How to Use the (GIS) Map Viewer
- Community Registry Database
- Austin City News Newsletter
- Tree Preservation Related to Development (not VMU specific)
Zoning Resources:
- What is zoning and where does it apply? Zoning districts are established to promote compatible patterns of land use within the city limits. Zoning districts also establish site development regulations and performance standards appropriate to the purposes and the uses allowed in each district. Distinct zoning districts exist for residential, office, retail and industrial uses. Furthermore, specific use restrictions, site development regulations or performance standards may apply to zoning districts combined with special overlay or combining districts.
- Zoning Frequently Asked Questions
- Zoning Site Development Standards
- Zoning Research
- Zoning Use Tables
- Zoning Districts Codes
- Map viewer – Find Zoning and Other Geographic Information
- How to Use the Map Viewer
- Zoning Notification — All property owners within 300′, Registered Neighborhood Organizations, and Sector Groups at the time of application are notified within 10 days of an application. In addition, these entities are again notified prior to public hearings. Signs are placed on all properties under zoning review.
- Zoning Processing Time — All zoning requests are heard by the Planning Commission either on the first, second or fourth Tuesday of a month (approximately six to seven weeks after the deadline). The City Council acts on the request the following month, generally four to six weeks after the Planning Commission hearing.
Neighborhood Resources:
- Austin Neighborhood Resources
- Austin Neighborhood Council
- Neighborhood Planning Page
- Overview of Neighborhood Planning
- Neighborhood Planning and Zoning Department
- Key to Zoning Ordinances Linked to Neighborhood Plans
- Map of the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Planning Area
- Land Use Map of the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Planning Area
