By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Despite several concerns voiced by nearby resident James Graham, Ellis County commissioners Monday night unanimously approved the Big Creek Estates Second Addition for plat development.
Graham, who lives in the 2200 block of Clay Drive, told the commission the project is "not feasible for the area," citing his worries that include not enough water for more private wells, stormwater runoff, and the impact to existing lots in the adjacent Big Creek Estates First Addition where he resides.
Graham said he "wants to see Ellis County and Hays grow. I do feel however, this is not the place for development to occur. I think that there's plenty of other more suitable locations that can be found."
The land is just southeast of Hays and is co-owned by Hays residents Adam Pray, a developer, and Kerry M. Tierman along with their wives.
The 7.5 acre area is a replat of Lot 10, Block 2 and Lot 3, Block 7 of Big Creek Estates.
At the Nov. 16 and Dec. 7 Ellis County Commission meetings, Pray requested permission to proceed to the Hays Area Planning Commission with the development. He was given preliminary approval pending completion of a right of way support letter, a commitment to build roads to county specifications, and to conduct drainage and traffic studies.
The Hays Area Planning Commission, to which Graham also spoke, approved the final plat development at its Nov. 16 meeting.
The county's requests have been completed and a change by Pray in the final plat design removed new roads that would have intersected with Reservation Road.
Driggs Design Group, Hays, conducted a study of other county roads in the area which already intersect with Reservation Road.
County staff have told Pray the county cannot maintain a cul-de-sac and that the southern section of the new road is considered a private road and will not be maintained by Ellis County.
The remainder of the new roads will be maintained by Ellis County.
Pray said property surrounding the private road will be in a developed homeowners association to determine how they will maintain the road themselves.
Commissioners have been concerned about Reservation Road, which is subject to flooding, and as a result requires more maintenance work for the county.
James Meis, Driggs Design, reviewed a drainage analysis conducted by the group's engineer.
Meis told the commission stormwater will generally drain south and to the east of the project via drainage ditches and stormwater pipes under the roadway.
The analysis concluded a "minimal increase of flow [that] will not impact the overall drainage basin or any other property downstream."
"Generally speaking, the runoff will increase a little bit," Meis said, "because of hard-faced surfaces such as concrete driveways and roofs.
"Everything else is going to remain where it's catching water and you're going to have gravel roads and turf yards," Meis pointed out. "It probably won't help the issue on Reservation Road, which is already an issue. It may be exacerbated slightly."
The floodplain is located directly behind the subdivision and no additional development is expected to occur in the area.
Public Works Director Brendan Mackay has reviewed the stormwater study and initial traffic study and approved both.
Mackay was directed by the commission to arrange for a traffic study, including speed limits, of the anticipated 26 more vehicles per day in the plat. Stop signs will be required on Josephine, Big Creek and Logan Drives.