impervious cover restrictions (Austin, Brushy Creek: house, transfer, zoning)

[Jennibc]

I am hearing from one pool company that Austin maxes out at 43% of impervious cover per lot and from another pool company at 45%. Does anyone have information on this. We are thinking of putting an offer on a house but will only do so if we can put a pool in the backyard at some future date. The house has a fairly big footprint and a long driveway so it may be cutting it close if it is 43%. Thanks for any information regarding this!

[Trainwreck20]

Just fyi, the pool itself does not count as impervious cover, and if you have to put decking in, I think it only counts as partially impervious cover (Austin Steve had mentioned this some while back, too, I think).

The percent may vary by are, I don't know. We have some aquifer experts, maybe I will go see if they know the development rules....

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Just fyi, the pool itself does not count as impervious cover, and if you have to put decking in, I think it only counts as partially impervious cover (Austin Steve had mentioned this some while back, too, I think).

The percent may vary by are, I don't know. We have some aquifer experts, maybe I will go see if they know the development rules....

If you would maybe go do that I would be eternally grateful, thanks! I cannot make sense of what is on the city website.

[Trainwreck20]

Grr....just checked down the hall...they are all at the Environmental Trade fair down at the convention center. If you are bored today, I am sure that out of one of the many hundereds of booths down there, at least a few will know the answer .

[centralaustinite]

Impervious cover limits vary by residential zoning type, do you know what your lot is zoned?

My guess is that your zoning is SF-3, for SF-3, the max. building coverage is 40% and the max. imperious cover is 45%, pools are excluded from impervious cover limits but concrete or limestone edging or decking is not. Wooden decks count at 50% of the area as impervious (I think), call the development office, they will know.

[Trainwreck20]

Closest I can find (if you are in the Uplands area):
§ 25-8-394 UPLANDS ZONE.
(A) This section applies to development in an uplands zone. Impervious cover limits in this section are expressed as percentages of net site area.

(B) This subsection applies in the extraterritorial jurisdiction and in the portions of the Lake, Rattan, and Brushy Creek watersheds that are in the zoning jurisdiction.

(1) Impervious cover for a single-family residential use with a minimum lot size of 5,750 square feet may not exceed:

(a) 45 percent; or

(b) if development intensity is transferred under Section 25-8-395 (Transfer Of Development Intensity), 50 percent.

(2) Impervious cover for a duplex or single-family residential use with a lot smaller than 5,750 square feet in size may not exceed:

(a) 55 percent; or

(b) if development intensity is transferred under Section 25-8-395 (Transfer Of Development Intensity), 60 percent.

[TexasHorseLady]

Okay, so why are pools excluded from impervious cover, presuming we're not talking about natural ponds here?

That doesn't make any sense.

[centralaustinite]

Ponds are excluded too.

I dunno, here is the text of the ordinance, note that it is a draft, not sure if it is finalized now or not, no time to look it up.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/developme...pro_08_002.pdf

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Okay, so why are pools excluded from impervious cover, presuming we're not talking about natural ponds here?

That doesn't make any sense.

My understanding talking to the pool companies is the restrictions have to do with "run-off" and drainage. Typically pools can absorb the rain water- the rain lands in the pools and stays put rather than running off. But you're right it doesn't seep back into the ground.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Closest I can find (if you are in the Uplands area):
§ 25-8-394 UPLANDS ZONE.
(A) This section applies to development in an uplands zone. Impervious cover limits in this section are expressed as percentages of net site area.

(B) This subsection applies in the extraterritorial jurisdiction and in the portions of the Lake, Rattan, and Brushy Creek watersheds that are in the zoning jurisdiction.

(1) Impervious cover for a single-family residential use with a minimum lot size of 5,750 square feet may not exceed:

(a) 45 percent; or

(b) if development intensity is transferred under Section 25-8-395 (Transfer Of Development Intensity), 50 percent.

(2) Impervious cover for a duplex or single-family residential use with a lot smaller than 5,750 square feet in size may not exceed:

(a) 55 percent; or

(b) if development intensity is transferred under Section 25-8-395 (Transfer Of Development Intensity), 60 percent.

We are looking southwest Austin, isn't brushy creek in the cedar park area?