AUSTIN (KXAN) — As plans move forward for the proposed Dog’s Head development in southeast Austin, several city leaders are calling for stronger environmental protections and more affordable housing before the project advances.
Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Members Chito Vela, Mike Siegel and José Velásquez recently issued recommendations for the more than 2,600-acres of land, urging that it include a substantial commitment to affordable housing and environmental protections.
In a statement they said: “Specifically, we’re asking that consideration be given to protecting undeveloped riparian areas and support a contiguous greenspace and wildlife protection zone along the Colorado River, consistent with the Colorado River Corridor plan. Additionally, we would like there to be analysis of an appropriate set aside of money for parkland in the TIRZ and an appropriate set aside of money for affordable housing outside of the TIRZ. Other Texas cities, including Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston, have set aside specific percentages of TIRZ funds for affordable housing and we’d like to see a substantial commitment here. As the discussions led by our professional financial staff progress and we get more information, these thoughts and ideas can be better defined. But we wanted to get them out there so that they could be discussed and incorporated in the negotiations.”…