New Building Heights Approved for Austin

The Austin City Council recently approved a zoning change that will allow taller buildings in the neighborhood surrounding Q2 Stadium, home to the Austin FC Major League Soccer team.

“City Council approved a zoning change on Oct. 27 to allow buildings up to 420 feet in height – about 40 stories – on some properties around Q2 Stadium and in the Domain,” reports Jonathan Lee for the Austin Monitor. Councilmember Leslie Pool, who represents the area, is quoted in the article saying the zoning change will take advantage of an economic boom taking place in the area around the stadium.

“The Domain and surrounding area has seen as much new development as anywhere in Austin in recent years. Uptown ATX, a massive mixed-use development on IBM’s former campus, began construction last year, and several projects around Q2 Stadium are in various stages of development,” reports Lee.

“The height increase applies to buildings within the Commercial Mixed-Use (CMU) Gateway Zone subdistrict of the North Burnet Gateway Regulating Plan. Height in the zoning district was 308 feet before the change. Floor area ratio, a measure of density, also increased from 8:1 to 12:1.”

Councilmember Pool has also suggested that the entire North Burnet Gateway Regulating Plan is due for a complete update to prepare for incoming development interest and transit investments.