Austin's Zoning Principles

• Zoning should be consistent with the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) or adopted neighborhood plan.
• Zoning should satisfy a public need and not constitute a grant of special privilege to an individual owner; the request should not result in spot zoning.
• Granting a request for zoning should result in an equal treatment of similarly situated properties.
• Granting the zoning should not in any way set an undesirable precedent for other properties in the neighborhood or within other areas of the city.
• Zoning should allow for a reasonable use of the property.
• Zoning should promote a transition between adjacent and nearby zoning districts, land uses, and development intensities.
• Zoning should promote the policy of locating retail and more intensive zoning near the intersections of arterial roadways or at the intersections of arterials and major collectors.
• The request should serve to protect and preserve places and areas of historical and cultural significance.
• Zoning should promote clearly identified community goals such as creating employment opportunities or providing for affordable housing.
• A change in conditions has occurred within the area indicating that there is a basis for changing the originally established zoning and/or development restrictions for the property.
• The rezoning should be consistent with the policies adopted by the City Council or Planning Commission/Zoning and Platting Commission.
• Zoning changes should promote compatibility with adjacent and nearby uses and should not result in detrimental impacts to the neighborhood character.

These are extracted from City of Austin, Neighborhood Planning, Guide to Zoning