The city updated its development code to include more robust protection for local wetlands and stricter sustainable stormwater infrastructure requirements.
New laws governing development in Austin, Texas took effect on Wednesday as part of updates to the city’s development code aimed at improving water quality and protecting the environment. Cindy Widner outlines the new rules in an article for Urbanize Austin.
The new rules require green stormwater infrastructure in new developments, strengthen protection of local wetlands, and amend the code to streamline and clarify environmental regulations. “The updates include initiatives related to water quality resource protection, such as increased use of the city's green stormwater infrastructure and expanded protections for wetlands on Lady Bird Lake.”
According to Widner “An amendment related to water quality controls will go into effect on November 1, 2023, barring other Watershed Protection recommendations made in the next year.” The city is working on additional code changes related to landscaping, missing middle housing, flood mitigation, and other environmental measures.
Read the full story: New development rules in effect
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