Background

On July 20, 2023, City Council approved Resolution No. 20230720-129 that directed staff to make amendments to the S.M.A.R.T. Housing program. Phase 1 amendments, adopted in February 2024, made fees eligible for a waiver under S.M.A.R.T. Housing part of the annual fee schedule going forward. Phase 2 contains proposed amendments to improve the functionality of the program. 

Summary of Proposed Amendments

The following amendments are proposed: 

• Require projects to provide units at 60 percent of the median family income (MFI) to be eligible for S.M.A.R.T. Housing instead of the current 80 percent MFI

• Allow income averaging to increase flexibility

• Require affordability restrictions to be executed prior to S.M.A.R.T. Housing certification

• Remove an outdated and administratively infeasible provision related to exceptions for certain community land trust units

• Remove outdated provisions or provisions which are inconsistent with the amendments listed above or which are superseded by separate sections of Code

Staff Contact

Brendan Kennedy, Housing Department, brendan.kennedy@austintexas.gov, (512) 978-1594