By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays is known for relatively high land prices for development.
City Manager Toby Dougherty said Thursday that's not always a bad thing.
A perfect example was the unanimous approval by city commissioners for the KWCI Addition final plat in the 24oo block of Canterbury.
It's a plat on the site of the former St. John’s Nursing Home, which was razed when Via Christi was built south of that location.
"Look at tonight's agenda and this property where water, sewer, and streets already exist. It's a good infill development," Dougherty said, "and the city doesn't have the expense of building utilities."
Infill development is the process of developing vacant or under-utilized properties within existing urban areas that are already largely developed.
"If you go down Main Street you're going to see a former attorney's building being converted into a new business.
"Right next to the First Care Clinic, there's another building being converted.
"If you drive around this part of town (city hall is at 1507 Main), you're gonna see a lot of dilapidated houses that were torn down and rebuilt."
Dougherty pointed out other locations in Hays where business infill has occurred, the Brian Ruder Agency at 27th and Indian Trail and Scooters Coffee on Vine Street.
"I think a lot of that was a result of high land prices. Just want to make sure you guys are thinking about the big picture perspective," he told commissioners.
The proposed KWCI plat includes six total lots ranging in size from 7,400 square feet to 28,000 square feet, allowing for future development of multi-family housing on the property owned by KC Western Investments.
The Hays Area Planning Commission had already approved the final plat.
Commissioners also approved $94,608 for fiber optic cabling services by Nex-Tech, Hays, to provide connectivity to the new fire station being built at 41st and Post Road.
The project is being done in coordination with Ellis County and the construction of its new public works facility, lowering costs for both entities. The county's share of $144,866 is larger because of the further distance to the new public works building.
The new fire station will also house the city's data server center. Most of the city's servers are in city hall, which lies in the flood plain and has previously flooded and had leaks in its flat roof during hard rains.
Commissioners also agreed to a request from the owner of Big Creek Crossing, Brooklyn, New York, for an extension to the first amendment of the 2014 Community Improvement District development agreement dated March 24, 2022. The extension will allow the owner an additional 18 months to gather qualifying expenses for the appropriation of the Community Improvement District funds to help further improve the property.
The Big Creek Crossing owner has indicated they'll be using a portion of the remaining funds to upgrade additional HVAC systems and expend funds for the newly signed tenant, AutoZone, which will be leasing the spot that previously housed the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Prior to the meeting, Mayor Shaun Musil signed a proclamation for observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October in a ceremony with representatives of Options Domestic and Sexual Violence. Services.