By ALICIA FEYERHERM
During Thursday’s meeting, the Hays City Commission reviewed a conceptual plan for the 90 acres of property by the interstate that the city bought in 2019.
Deputy City Manager Collin Bielser presented the plan.
“Attraction of retail is a high demand of residents of Hays and Ellis County,” Bielser said.
RDG Planning and Design drafted a conceptual plan for the area.
“It’s a highly mixed-use development that emphasizes density, making development costs more effective and efficient, addresses the need to diversify the city’s housing stock, adds retail and commercial space, and it’s all connected within one community,” Bielser said.
Bielser noted it is a long-term plan for the property and it will take several years to fully build out.
The plan includes:
- A convenience store
- Heavy retail (like an outdoor shopping center)
- Small scale retail
- Visitor services (like hotels)
- Offices
- Small scale multi-family homes
- Townhomes
- Mixed use space for office, residential and retail
- Walking trails and public art
A Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) grant has been applied for to help cover costs of water and sewer infrastructure.
Before voting on the plan, Commissioner Sandy Jacbos clarified the commission’s obligation if approved.
“A conceptual plan doesn’t tie us to anything; it gives us the opportunity to talk to developers and show them what’s possible on this property,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs said she liked that this could give visitors another “entry” into Hays. This development could also help pay for paving 41st Street and Commerce Parkways, something the commission has been supportive of but has been unable to find the funds to pay for it.
“This is new revenue, this is new property taxes, this is more sales taxes, this is an opportunity for a joint project to capture some of that sales tax outside of the infrastructure needs, so you’re not hitting your regular budget,” City Manager Toby Dougherty said.
Mayor Mason Ruder said big projects like these can show potential residents Hays is growing.
“We’re open for business and we’re not slowing down,” Ruder said.
Commissioner Shaun Musil said if Hays wants to grow, the city has to offer incentives.
“We’ve adjusted the way we do our incentives so most of them have been win-win situations,” he said.
Commissioner Reese Barrick brought up adding a tourist attraction to the development.
“Since it’s right on the interstate and that’s the thing people will see driving by, is there something immediately that would be interesting?” Barrick said.
Dougherty said the concept allows for easy insertion of an attraction depending on the size and composition and could be part of a broader discussion of the development.
After a motion by Jacobs and a second by Commissioner Alaina Cunningham, the commission unanimously approved the conceptual plan.
“It’s exciting that we have another thing to move forward on,” Ruder said. “I think we’re all tired of waiting. Let’s get it done.”