Better Know a Candidate: Laura Morrison

2. Has the McMansion ordinance been successful? What do you think of City Council's recent decision to reject OCEAN's request to further restrict home sizes on small lots in East Austin?

The McMansion Task Force recommended reconvening 6 months after implementation to review the efficacy of the ordinance and recently completed that review. Indications from public input, study, and surveys during the review suggest that the McMansion ordinance is a balanced approach that promotes more appropriate development in the central neighborhoods of Austin without hurting home values or decreasing the building or remodeling activity. The Council is moving forward with the Task Force recommendations to adjust the ordinance to address specific issues that have arisen.

The ordinance was the result of a carefully crafted compromise between a broad range of stakeholders. That compromise acknowledged that a “one size fits all” approach may not be appropriate for the diverse character of our neighborhoods in the central city, by including the ability of neighborhoods to make recommendations for the customization of the ordinance. I am disappointed that the Council discussion on OCEAN’s request did not acknowledge this element of the compromise.

3. Some neighborhood groups have attempted to opt-out of the vertical-mixed-use program for most or all eligible properties in their neighborhood. Would you vote to approve or reject those decisions?

Very few neighborhoods suggested opting most or all eligible properties out of VMU. Where that did occur was in situations where the VMU ordinance was contradicting existing neighborhood plans and goals or where no neighborhood plan was in place and the area residents did not feel they had adequate information. I think it’s important to respect the work of people across our city and I would only reject their action for clear, well understood reasons.

4. What should the city government do to promote or discourage suburban development? What about condo/apartment development downtown? What about condo/apartment development in other parts of the city?

The city has a number of tools to promote or discourage development. However, the key question should be what kind of development should we be building where, and what are the impacts of that development on the community, our taxes, our schools, and the environment? The city should develop a comprehensive plan to promote appropriate development where we want it. Addressing housing challenges must be an integral part of the planning effort.

Often the city has the ability to affect size and affordability levels in new housing downtown and in other parts of the city. We must be strong in applying the tools we do have and we must be proactive in developing new tools. The city should promote housing that will serve the needs of Austinites now and in the future by incorporating considerations, for example of affordability, families and the elderly.

5. Homes near downtown are generally more expensive than homes in the suburbs. Should the city do anything to change that? What?

As a member of the Policy Committee of the Austin affordable housing non-profit, HousingWorks, I understand that safe decent housing is the basic foundation for our families and community. Many new ideas have surfaced to create affordable housing in or near downtown. Some of my ideas include developing a comprehensive plan to preserve existing affordable housing, meeting the 25% affordable housing goal for Transit Oriented Development around rail stops, and developing new public and private financing tools such as land trusts to spur affordable housing development.

There are many benefits to our community to ensuring that there is mix of housing in all parts of town, including downtown and the central city. Ensuring affordability will help seniors stay in their neighborhoods as they age and could allow their children to stay in the neighborhoods they grew up in as young adults. Affordable housing downtown could help downtown and state employees work closer to their jobs which would help decrease congestion. There are opportunities for less expensive housing downtown with appropriate use of city-owned land, partnerships with the State in redeveloping State-owned parking garages, and mid-rise housing on properties in the Capitol View Corridor as was suggested by ROMA Design Group in the recent Downtown Plan.

6. Austinites love cars (80% of us drive to work by ourselves), but hate traffic. What would you do to get Austinites to commute differently and/or reduce traffic? How often do you get to work by some method other than driving? What is your alternative method?

Failed planning has led to terrible congestion, higher transportation costs, and lower quality of life. Despite approving almost $3 billion dollars for toll roads since 2005, congestion and related financial and environmental problems have grown. We need a new approach to relieve congestion that focuses on high impact immediate solutions, prioritizing road upkeep and balancing funding between new roads and public transportation. With gas prices expected to reach $4.00 a gallon by summer, the costs are too high not to take action.

On the campaign trail, I do have opportunities to walk at times. Otherwise, I drive.

7. Austin has the potential to be a great biking city and a lot of people bike recreationally, but it is difficult for most people to bike to work. What should the city do to improve the opportunity to bike-commute? Do you own a bike? How often do you ride it to work?

We need to refocus part of our transportation planning on near term solutions that relieve congestion. This means expanding bikeways, building a better pedestrian environment, and balancing spending on new roads with public transportation. We have to look at a system-wide fix for a system-wide problem.

I do own a bike which I enjoy riding for recreation. I do not ride it to work but I do often walk.

8. Are you happy with the apparent resolution of the Las Manitas/Marriott controversy? If not, how do you think it should have been handled differently?

I believe it is appropriate that the issue was finally resolved between the two parties, Las Manitas and Marriott. The final agreement as I understand it calls for support from Marriott for the displaced local business. The City should have a clear, publicly supported plan for retaining our small local businesses. A broad transparent economic development policy should be in place before this situation occurs again.

9. Do you think Austin is better now than it was 10 years ago? Do you think it will be better 10 years from now than it is now?

I’ve always been an optimist but I think the jury is out about Austin’s future. If we face the future and actually deal proactively with the threats from unmanaged growth, greater economic disparity, continuing environmental degradation, loss of affordability, and a failing transportation system, I believe we can share a better future.

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