About Imagine Austin

Imagine Austin is our plan for the future. It defines a vision for how we want Austin to grow and develop over the next three decades. The Comprehensive Plan connects the community vision to tangible actions and realizable priorities.

Thousands of Austinites have helped shape Imagine Austin by sharing ideas. Flip through the draft plan and tell us what you think.

What a comprehensive plan is

The Comprehensive Plan provides broad-level guidance on how Austin will grow and develop into the future. It guides development within City limits, as well as within the City’s extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ), which can extend as far as five miles beyond City limits.

A Comprehensive Plan is:

  • A guide for the management of change
  • A reflection of community values and aspirations
  • The foundation for policies, strategies, and actions
  • The community's to-do list
  • A catalyst for community consensus

 

Plan elements

Imagine Austin is built around 14 plan elements (10 are required by City Charter), organized into seven Building Blocks:

Building Block

Element

Land Use & Transportation

Land Use*
Transportation*
Urban Design
Historic and Cultural Preservation

Housing & Neighborhoods

Housing*

Conservation & Environment

Conservation & Environment*

Economy

Economy*

City Facilities & Services

Water, Wastewater, Drainage, Solid Waste*
Recreation and Open Space*
Public Buildings*, Facilities, and Services*

Society

Health and Human Services*

Children, Families, and Education

Creativity

Arts, Culture, and Creativity

* required by City Charter

 

 

In addition to these elements, Imagine Austin also provides guidance on implementing the plan.