Austin Residents Invited to Share Their Feedback on City’s Comprehensive Plan Update

Austin, the city, has invited its residents to give their feedback on the comprehensive plan update dubbed “Imagine Austin”. This plan serves as the city’s long-range blueprint, guiding planning and policy decisions based on defined community priorities.

About “Imagine Austin”

First adopted in 2012, “Imagine Austin” was established as a 30-year roadmap for the city. Being a flexible and evolving document which encompasses various issues such as housing, mobility, environment conservation, arts and culture, and workforce-related concerns, it has undergone several revisions to stay relevant to the ever-changing metropolis momentums.

The current update, coming twelve years after the plan’s initial launching, was triggered by factors such as significant demographic shifts, the new City Council representation system, escalating housing costs, and major new local development and infrastructure projects.

City Officials’ Take On The Update

Lauren Middleton-Pratt, the city planning director, noted that the comprehensive plan needs to reflect the city’s values. She stated, “Our comprehensive plan is a living, breathing document that should reflect the values of our community. The Austin of 2024 doesn’t look like the Austin of 2012, and we know our city will continue to change and evolve. We look forward to collaborating with as many Austinites as possible to ensure that we create a document that shepherds an equitable, opportunity-rich future for everyone.”

How To Participate In The Update Process

Residents are encouraged to contribute their ideas to the plan, focused on reinforcing themes of “racial equity, resilience, sustainability and access to opportunity”. To facilitate broad participation in the update, expected to run through 2026, the city launched a public engagement website and hosted several informational events.

Residents can learn about upcoming events and sign up for updates on the process through the project’s SpeakUp Austin page.

Additional Plans In The Pipeline

In addition to the “Imagine Austin” plan, the city’s planning department maintains a comprehensive list of revisions to the city’s land development code. Aimed at enhancing housing affordability and streamlining development procedures, these revisions include more localized planning initiatives and citywide policy shifts.

Recently, initiatives like the “HOME” or Housing Options for Middle-Income Empowerment, as well as changes to building limits near single-family homes and along forthcoming transit routes have been approved.