S.M.A.R.T. Housing Review

In addition to providing certain fee waivers, the S.M.A.R.T. Housing policy provides for S.M.A.R.T. Housing review of site plans, subdivision plats, building permit applications, and zoning cases. Qualified projects will be eligible for S.M.A.R.T. Housing review, typically faster than the review times for conventional projects.

All S.M.A.R.T. Housing subdivision and site plan cases are reviewed by a special S.M.A.R.T. Housing review team in the Watershed Protection and Development Review Department. Typically, City staff reviews the subdivision or site plan within 14 working days, and the applicant is required to submit revised plans within 14 working days as well. City staff reviews the corrected plans within seven working days, and the design team is required to submit revisions to rejected plans within seven working days. The reviewers also assist applicants in finding solutions to technical problems.

If rezoning is necessary, the goal is to reach a third reading at City Council within 45 days after the zoning application is filed. S.M.A.R.T. Housing zoning applicants are required to contact registered neighborhood associations and secure support (or a list of neighborhood concerns) prior to filing a zoning application. The applicant meets with S.M.A.R.T. Housing staff following these discussions with the surrounding neighborhood organizations, and major issues are identified and addressed before the zoning application is filed.

S.M.A.R.T. Housing review times are suspended when variances are required, and when the applicant's design team fails to respond to comments in a timely manner.

All new multi-family S.M.A.R.T. Housing developments require accessibility review of building and site plans by NHCD's third party reviewer. Austin Energy reviews all S.M.A.R.T. Housing plans for compliance with Green Building requirements, and NHCD reviews plans for compliance with transit-oriented and visitability standards.