New State Law Could Force Austin to Limit Downtown Tower Heights Immediately

According to Spectrum News, the City of Austin recently approved a temporary height limit for new downtown towers on October 23. This change was made to allow the city’s Density Bonus Program to continue supporting affordable housing.

Get our free mobile app

No More Megatowers? Austin Council Votes for Interim Height Restrictions Downtown

This decision has sparked significant discussion among residents, as it will impact new developments in the central business district. Currently, downtown Austin is considering a maximum building height cap of 350 feet.

On September 1, a response was issued regarding the implications of Senate Bill 840, which prohibits Texas cities from enforcing a floor-to-area ratio (FAR) for mixed-use and residential projects.

Austin Enacts Height Limit to Cope with Sweeping State Zoning Law

District 4 Council Member Chito Vela told KVUE, “We need some time to work through the state law and get to a good solution to encourage skyscrapers downtown, but I want to make sure we preserve our affordable housing dollars and meet the Great Streets requirements.”

Why Your Next Skyscraper Might Be Shorter

A separate request was also approved, recommending that the City Council reject strict height limits and instead consider setting the maximum height at 700 feet to better align with current and future development patterns.

Alan Pani, a principal planner for the city, stated, “We have to put in a height limit to make the Downtown Density Bonus Program continue to work.” He emphasized that, although the cap is not intended to be a long-term solution, the City Council has directed the City Manager’s Office to provide updated recommendations for maximum height within the district by May 28.