Planning Commission Approves East Austin Plaza Saltillo Development Project

EAST AUSTIN, TX — In a split vote on Tuesday, the Austin Planning Commission approved a zoning change and more height for a building at the proposed Plaza Saltillo development on an 11-acre tract of land owned by Capital Metro.

The Plaza Saltillo project next goes to the Austin City Council after a 9-4 vote by the Planning Commission. Developers Endeavor Real Estate Group and Columbus Realty Partners seek to build affordable units at the site, as well as an office building measuring 125 feet in height.

The plans have raised the consternation among community members. Some believe the number of residential units earmarked as affordable weren't sufficient, while others worry about the precedent the greater height of the office building—roughly three times greater than what's normally seen in heavily residential areas—might set. Others expressed concern over the size of the apartments planned at the site, voicing support for units with more bedrooms rather than the one-bedroom layout configuration of 90 percent of the dwellings.

According to city-provided documents, the project dates to 2004, when commuter rails service between Austin and Leander was approved by voters. Voter approval spurred the city to adopt a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) district ordinance in 2005, enabling the city to work with neighborhoods and property owners to develop Station Area Plans and Regulating Plants along the rail route.

By 2008, the Plaza Saltillo TOD was created, later to be updated in 2013. Within the TOD, there are three mixed-use subdistricts and one residential sub-district, according to city documents. The area allows for a mix of ground-floor commercial or other uses, with residential, commercial and/or office uses on the upper floors.

Endeavor Real Estate Group officials envision a project comprising 100 apartments meant for seniors, 120,000 square feet of office space and 100,000 square feet of retail space. Of the apartments, 141 would be reserved as affordable units. A pocket park also is part of the plan.

>>> Image via Shutterstock