The Austin City Council discussed 196 items on July 20, including modifying SMART housing policies, reducing the city’s oversight in the watershed department and increasing infrastructure for middle-class housing.
The city of Austin’s Safe, Mixed-Income, Accessible, Reasonably Priced,Transit Oriented program, known as SMART, provides fee waivers for permanent development, but the constant addition and renaming of fees complicate the process of identifying which fees are waived. Sponsored by Council Member Jose Velásquez, Item 129 aims to simplify this by specifically naming the non-waived fees rather than the waived fees.
“The SMART housing program was intended to provide expedited review and fee waivers for affordable housing developments,” Velásquez said. “Unfortunately, it’s fallen short as it currently stands.”
With some requirements, all…
