The City of Austin Planning and Zoning Department has recently begun working with residents to develop the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan. All community members are welcome to the second neighborhood workshop, from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 5, in the Pillow Elementary cafeteria, 3025 Crosscreek Drive. Note that the date has changed from Nov. 12 to Nov. 5. In order to maximize participation, it was decided not to hold the meeting during a holiday weekend.

The North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan will guide the form, location and character of future development in the approximately 1-square mile area bounded by Burnet Road to the east; Anderson Lane to the south; MoPac Expressway to the west; and U.S. 183 to the north. The planning area includes approximately 3,700 residents.

Residents, business owners, landowners and other interested community members are encouraged to participate in the planning process, which will take approximately six months and will involve a series of community events and workshops. Working together with Planning and Zoning staff, stakeholders will establish a clear vision of their priorities, develop strategies to meet community needs, and create a guide for future development. At the second meeting, City staff will report on results from the Kickoff Meeting and collect input on mobility from residents.

The City initiated the neighborhood planning program in 1997 to preserve and enhance the quality of life and character of neighborhoods – mostly located in Austin’s urban core. Fifty-three neighborhood planning areas have completed the planning process and have adopted neighborhood plans.

The North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan will be the second neighborhood plan developed since the adoption of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan. The North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan will be guided by Imagine Austin’s vision of creating a city of complete communities. These are communities in which residents have convenient access to their daily needs, such as goods, services, parks and jobs. While Imagine Austin articulates a citywide vision for Austin, the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan will provide a neighborhood-scale plan that accounts for local conditions.

Following the Nov. 5 meeting, the next workshop will be Dec. 3 and will focus on community character – shaping the form and character of public spaces and districts within the neighborhood. Once adopted, the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan will be used as a policy guide for future decision-making in the planning area.

For more information on the planning process and upcoming meetings, contact Jeff Engstrom at 512-974-1621 or visit http://www.austintexas.gov/northshoalcreek