A month ago, citizens and members of the Austin Planning Commission met to review the city’s proposed comprehensive plan.

Tuesday, August 15, 2000

A month ago, citizens and members of the Austin Planning Commission met to review the city’s proposed comprehensive plan. One day after the flood, it wasn’t surprising that many came to ask why the plan didn’t address any flood-control measures.

At 5:30 tonight in the Council Chambers, City Community Development Director Craig Hoium and the Planning Commission will take the revised plan to the public again.

"The main changes or additions are in the areas of flood-plain management, open natural green space and land use issues," Hoium said. "We’re hoping this time the plan will meet with the public’s approval."

Concerned citizens are encouraged to attend the meeting and should be aware that, once adopted, the comprehensive plan will be used to guide the decisions of both the Planning Commission and the Austin City Council. The plan itself addresses many issues – including residential, commercial and industrial development, diversity, recreation, stormwater management and land use. Ideally, a comprehensive plan will not only serve as a framework, outlining in general the future development of the community, it also will give the community leaders goals and action ideas to follow.

It’s taken Austin nearly two years to develop this latest comprehensive plan, the city’s first since 1988. The process has been a fairly public one from the beginning, starting with community surveys and focus group meetings, then involving many hours by Planning Commission members, Hoium and community development specialist Jeff Mundt, and finally coming full circle back to the public at the July 11 hearing.

Copies of the comprehensive plan are available at the city engineering offices on the second floor of the Municipal Building at 500 Fourth Ave. NE.

Before the public hearing on the comprehensive plan, the Planning Commission will hold two public hearings on planning and zoning issues: the first on a request from George Klingfus, 1408 21st St. SW, for a variance to limitations on accessory structures so he can build a detached garage. The second hearing will review a preliminary plat for the area known as The Point, at the intersection of Fourth Street NW, First Drive NW and 10th Place NW.

Council Chambers are located on the lower level of the Municipal Building at 500 Fourth Ave. NE.