AUSTIN — It could shape the way Austin is developed for years to come, but the handicapped community in Austin is concerned about how CodeNEXT could impact accessibility and affordability if and when it’s passed.
"A lot of the work that went into ensuring accessibility may have gone by the wayside,” said Nancy Krowther, an organizer with the group Adapt of Texas.
The group spoke to Austin City Council members about their concerns with CodeNEXT before the next public hearing on June 2.
"We want housing, we want affordability and those are a lot of things that we're missing right now,” explained Krowther.
Krowther said the language in the draft isn’t as clear as they’d like it to be when it comes to developing accessible affordable housing and connecting sidewalks for people who are handicapped.
Overall, Krowther said the group is not opposed to CodeNEXT, but advise the council to take it slow and think about every new code.
"We don't want the CodeNEXT tsunami to strike us and then we go oops,” said Krowther.
Another concern is parking requirements. Krowther, who has been in a wheelchair since early childhood, remembers how difficult it used to be to navigate life.
"I used an ambulance to get to the junior high, that's all they had,” she said.
Krowther has fought for decades in handicap advocacy groups and as an employee of CapMetro to increase accessibility for people in wheelchairs.
The group became concerned with a recommendation by the Austin Planning Commission to remove all requirements for developers to provide parking spots. However, there is an amendment in the current draft for developers to provide off‐street parking for persons with disabilities.
"Once you strip the requirements there, it's gone and lost forever,” said Krowther. "It's not a luxury, it's a necessity."
City Council is asking for public input on June 2nd. To attend and learn more about CodeNEXT, click here.