Neighborhood Planning Team (NPT)
The North University Neighborhood Planning Team was formed as the follow-up group to the neighborhood planning process. This committee is in charge of land use matters for NUNA.
The NUNA Planning Team (NPT) held its regularly scheduled meeting in January. The property owner of 405 W 33rd Street was requesting a parking variance from the Board of Adjustments due to an extra parking requirement associated with the building of an accessory apartment. An accessory apartment is different from a garage apartment in a couple of ways; it may be attached to an existing single family structure and may have a larger square footage than a garage apartment in NUNA. Garage apartments in our area are allowed a generous 850 square feet while the City allows other neighborhoods 650 square feet. Additionally, the accessory apartment use is specifi cally designated for a person over 60 or a disabled individual. This particular case was discussed and settled very quickly with a workable solution for the property owner and the neighborhood. Since parking and parking variances are sensitive issues, it is unlikely that a variance would be supported by the whole neighborhood. The resolution was to build only an addition without a kitchen to the existing single family house. An addition would not trigger any more parking requirements for the single family property. All parties were satisfied with this unusually quick solution. Good work for the NPT!
We are still revising our bylaws for the NPT. The present bylaws are somewhat cumbersome and mired in legalese. The goal is to simplify the language but also to maintain a process in which land use matters may be considered and acted upon readily. Bill Bednar and Scott Morris are spearheading this Herculean, revisional effort. They have promised written revisions by the next NPT meeting in February.
The NUNA Planning Team meets the second Wednesday of every month to discuss zoning, permits, land use, variance requests and related matters. If you are interested in attending one of our meetings, please contact Mary Ingle at 320-8449. These meetings are open to anyone in the neighborhood. The NPT is a resource for all NUNA property owners. If you are planning a redevelopment project or just building a carport, the NPT is familiar with the zoning ordinances, and NUNA's Neighborhood Conservation Combining District (NCCD) requirements that govern our area. The NCCD has more flexible tools for redevelopment than the City of Austin.