By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays city commissioners Thursday approved a rezoning request and final plat even though the land area is not within the city limits.
The request came from Hays developer Adam Pray for rezoning Big Creek Estates Second Addition from Agriculture to Residential General, along with approval of the final plat for 14 lots.
It has already been approved by the Hays Area Planning Commission and the Ellis County Commission, Curtis Deines, planning, inspection and enforcement superintendent, told the city commission.
"On the Future Land Use Map, the area is identified as AP or Agricultural Production. It's adjacent to Light Density Residential which fits the single family residential type homes," Deines explained.
"It is part of the (Hays) Comprehensive Plan and is
compatible with this, so it is a logical development. It carries the character of the neighborhood with single family (zoning) being next to it."
The city commission makes the ultimate decision on the rezoning request because the land falls within the city's three-mile Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) surrounding the city limits.
Commissioner Mason Ruder, Ellis County environmental planning supervisor, abstained from both votes. Ruder has been involved in evaluating the properties for water and sewer.
The Hays Area Planning Commission is scheduled to review the ETJ and the updated Ellis County comprehensive plan during the meeting Monday night.
In other business, city commissioners:
* Approved low bids totaling $959,202.45 from nine contractors for the 2021 Street Maintenance Program.
* Approved the reappointment of Albert Klaus to the Hays Housing Authority.
* Made note of the expiration of the city's face mask ordinance the day before, while Gov. Laura Kelly's executive order requiring face coverings remains in effect through the end of the month.