Land near The Domain green-lighted for high-density development

More than 100 acres near The Domain, or what is sometimes called Austin’s second downtown, could be getting high-density residential projects and high-rise office developments.

That's because City Council on Jan. 18 gave final approval to a zoning change for the 121-acre tract, which is just south and west of The Domain in the North Burnet/Gateway area and is bounded by MoPac Expressway to the east, U.S. Highway 183 to the west and Capital of Texas Highway to the north. The tract had been zoned for mixed-use commercial, but the change will allow for high-density housing, high-rise offices, entertainment complexes, destination retail outlets and large-scale civic uses.

The land has multiple owners and currently is occupied by a Dave & Buster's restaurant, a Regal movie theater and a Whole Foods Market, among other businesses. The new zoning is expected to usher in a wave of change.

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This area sandwiched between the MoPac Expressway, U.S. Highway 183 and the Capital of Texas Highway is set to be rezoned for increased density growing the urban development seen in the neighboring Domain.

Developers now are allowed to build with a floor-to-area ratio, or FAR, of up to 10:1, and a maximum building height of up to 350 feet — or about 35 stories — if they dedicate some space to affordable housing under the city's developer bonus program, or if they pay a fee in lieu of offering residential housing at below-market rates.

For rental units, developers seeking to participate in the bonus program would need to offer some of the dwellings at 60% of Austin’s median family income, or MFI, for a period of at least 40 years. If building housing units for sale to occupants, developers would need to offer some of them at 60% MFI for a period of 99 years.

According to data gathered by Austin’s Housing Department, MFI for a family of four in Travis County is $70,080.

Originally on council’s Dec. 14 agenda but delayed, the zoning change includes a set of revisions made in response to a recent court ruling determining the city failed to provide adequate public notice to residents.

Jorge Rousselin, the division manager for the city’s development services department, said during a recent Planning Commission meeting that there "should not be an issue " moving forward.

The decision also follows a set of other rezonings to encourage denser development for the area, which is anchored by Q2 Stadium and The Domain.