Removing Barriers Subcommittee (RBSC)

The Removing Barriers to Affordable Housing Development and Preservation Subcommittee is charged with recommending improvements to the Unified Development Code (UDC) and other City processes to facilitate affordable housing development and protection in San Antonio.

As recommended by the Mayor's Housing Policy Framework, the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department established this group in 2019 with a focus on:

• reducing the cost burden of development regulations
• removing barriers to Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) development
• other policies related to affordable housing

The group became a subcommittee of the Housing Commission in October 2021.

Current priorities of the Removing Barriers to Affordable Housing Development and Preservation Subcommittee are to develop recommendations supporting the linkage of housing and transportation, and models to support affordability amidst growth, such as Community Land Trusts (CLTs) and land banking. The subcommittee is also exploring recommendations on Universal Design and Visitability related UDC amendments.

The subcommittee also plays a lead role in crafting housing related policy recommendations as part of the Transit-Oriented Policy (TOP) Framework Plan development and will continue to be active throughout its implementation.