By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Three items related to progress in the Tallgrass Housing 4th Addition near 22nd and Wheatland in east Hays were presented at Thursday's Hays City Commission work session.
Included was a rezoning request from agriculture and residential general districts to residential multi-family by the developer, Grow Hays/Heart of America Development Corporation.
The designation request, already unanimously approved by the Hays Planning Commission, would offer the developer more housing-type options and flexibility, including higher-density residential uses.
"The primary objective is to allow for the higher density with smaller setbacks," said Jesse Rohr, public works director.
There are 101 lots in the final plat covering the area north of Phases 1-3 and continuing north to Interstate 70.
Phases 1-3 have a total of 65 lots. Each of houses was sold before it was completely built, said Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director.
He expects the new 22-acre area to be just as popular with new homeowners.
"If this has ever been done in our community at this scale, it's been 60 years," Williams said. "It's all similar to what was done in the first three phases, similar lot sizes and price points.
"Heart of America has been willing to step up to the plate and do this all at on time. They know costs are going to be higher later than what costs are now."
Sloan Engineering and Consulting, Hays, has prepared a $249,850 contract for engineering services for the addition which has about 4,500 ft. of water line, sanitary sewer and street improvements.
An award for reconstruction of 32nd/33rd Street from Willow to Vine was presented by Rohr.
"This has been on our capital improvement plan for some time. ... There's a lot of deterioration," Rohr said. The street section was built in the mid-1960s.
Vogts-Parga Construction, Moundridge, submitted the lowest bid for the project, $1. 55 million, which is about $245,000 below budget.
The project includes removing and replacing all the concrete pavement, various areas of curb and gutter, select areas of sidewalk and curb ramps to meet ADA requirements, intersections, and some alley entrances. The north intersection of Skyline and 33rd Street will be widened.
Also under consideration is a construction engineering services agreement with Driggs Design Group, Hays, for $52,320.
The section of street is a minor urban arterial road and carries about 3,500 vehicles per day.
Rohr said those figures were from 2021. Mayor Sandy Jacobs said she expects the traffic count is down since the extension of nearby 37th Street.
Rohr told commissioners that one lane would remain open during the reconstruction except when intersections are worked on.
Affected property owners will be notified of the project and a public informational meeting will be held in February.
Commissioners also discussed a request by BEREXCO, LLC for annexation of its 5-acre front lot property at 800A Commerce Parkway. The remainder of the lot to the east would remain in the county.
"The owner is looking to the city for more reliable sanitary sewer," Rohr said.
The business is the Hays branch of an independent oil and gas exploration and production company. City utilities are available for connection with water and sewer running adjacent to Commerce Parkway.
Commissioners moved all items forward for a vote at their Jan. 23 meeting.