Dear Neighbor:
One of the important conversations in Rollingwood right now is about our residential building code. Before and during the current election, I’ve received many questions about my stance on this issue, and just yesterday, a question was raised by the Chair of Planning & Zoning/CRCRC on one of our community WhatsApp boards about candidate views on CRCRC’s recommendations related to building heights. I’ve had a lot of in-person dialog with neighbors and am happy to record some of those thoughts here so it is clear where I stand on issues related to building code.
When discussing changes to our building code, it is important to first highlight that an essential process step has yet to be taken. This process step—updating our Comprehensive Plan—needs to happen before any decisions on residential building size should be made. At the recent candidate forum, I emphasized how Rollingwood’s adopted Comprehensive Plan must be considered with any building code updates. The reason the Comprehensive Plan is important is that any changes to the zoning code are required by state law to be adopted in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan. In following the discussions of what the CRCRC has recommended, I have heard no discussion about how the Comprehensive Plan will be updated.
One key reason the Council I served on in 2020 prioritized creating a Comprehensive Plan was to provide stability to residents, helping them know what to expect from our city’s zoning code whether they have lived here for decades or are purchasing a home here. The Plan, passed in 2022, states: “Although many residents are concerned about older and smaller homes being replaced by larger ones, there is no widespread desire to alter current rules related to home sizes.” (emphasis added) Since CRCRC’s zoning recommendations to the City Council and P&Z would affect home sizes, it’s essential for the City Council to involve the community in updating the plan to reflect why these changes are now being discussed. Moreover, the proposed changes should be condensed into clear policy statements within the Comprehensive Plan to guide future zoning in a transparent and stable way. This process should include ample public participation and clear notice about potential impacts on property values.
In my previous service on the Council, I learned that our community values stability in city processes and zoning expectations. There have been recent interpretations of our zoning code that I agree need review and revision to better align with our community’s understanding of the buildable envelope for homes. The code didn’t change, but when the people reviewing building plans changed, the way the code was being applied changed. It is vital we clarify policies in our Comprehensive Plan and terms and definitions in our City code in a way that ensures both consistency and fairness for homeowners so that as staff members change, expectations are clear.
One of the things that I have observed participating in and listening to the process at the CRCRC and P&Z is that some members of these bodies have taken the position that questions and constructive inquiry about how their proposals would work, whether from members of the public or from their own bodies, are the equivalent of opposition. This mindset can hinder consensus and collaboration.
At their October 2024 meeting, the majority of members on P&Z requested more time to review CRCRC’s recommendations on height and tenting, highlighting their desire for further opportunity to review, ask questions, and evaluate what is being proposed. If elected, I will support P&Z in taking the necessary time for a thorough review, inviting the public to participate meaningfully in this process. Questions and additional options aren’t opposition; they are part of making well-informed policy decisions, and I believe it’s an attitude the City Council should encourage.
I joined community members in June in asking the City to hold a workshop with our building officials to demonstrate real-world interpretations of the proposal. The majority of CRCRC voted in support of this workshop, but it has not happened yet. I value the expertise that the CRCRC has brought to making their recommendations, and I would also like to ensure I fully understand how those applying and enforcing the code will interpret and apply these updates, including a comprehensive look with the requirements of the City’s Drainage Criteria Manual and International Building Code.
We need some changes to our residential building code to address recent interpretations that don’t align with community expectations. If elected, I’ll prioritize keeping the work that has been started by the CRCRC moving forward with opportunities for P&Z and the community to review, and prioritizing work on clarifying our Comprehensive Plan with any changes to the City’s Code to ensure everyone understands the boundaries of buildable envelopes on properties.
I’m always here to discuss questions or concerns about the building code. Feel free to reach out anytime—just text me first if you’d like to arrange a convenient time to talk. I’m at 512-633-9571.
I would appreciate your support and your vote. Early voting continues this weekend and through Friday, November 1, with election day on November 5. The Randalls on Bee Cave Road is the closest voting location to Rollingwood, and more information on locations and hours are available here.
Warmly,
Amy Pattillo, Candidate for Rollingwood City Council
3 Rock Way Cove
Rollingwood, TX 78746