City reports progress on Equitable Transit‑Oriented Development program; $300M anti‑displacement funds in use

Austin Planning staff on Oct. 1 presented an update on the city's Equitable Transit‑Oriented Development (ETOD) program, outlining policy changes, ongoing studies and next steps to pair transit investments with measures to prevent displacement.

Warner Cook, principal planner leading ETOD coordination, said the city has eliminated parking minimums citywide since 2023, advanced mixed‑use and missing‑middle zoning studies and moved forward programmatic tools tied to Project Connect. He said "we're working on the transfer of development rights program" and that staff will publish additional details on TDR and other implementation tools in 2027.

Cook highlighted programmatic work including a $300,000,000 anti‑displacement fund approved by voters with Project Connect that is being deployed for community‑initiated solutions, land acquisitions and development assistance managed by Austin Housing. He also described parking studies on soft maximums and unbundling that staff expects to complete in December and said the city is coordinating with CapMetro on transit development guidelines.

Staff outlined station‑area planning underway (Northeast district, East Riverside, central city) and indicated they plan to use new mixed‑use base zones as rezoning tools once vision plans are developed. Council members asked questions about prioritization (displacement risk versus vacant land opportunity) and coordination with CapMetro and housing partners, and staff said those considerations are being integrated into typology updates and future rezoning plans.