By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays city commissioners voted unanimously this week on several items that move forward with planned business and housing developments.
Jesse Rohr, public works director, presented recommendations to vacate DK Ranch Addition and a portion of Country Club Estates Sixth Addition for consideration of the Smoky Hill Plains Addition final plat. The project proposal also required the deannexation of DK Ranch and the annexation of Smoky Hill Plains Addition to streamline the property's legal description.
No comments were made during the public hearing for the deannexation.
Several current homeowners in the Columbine and 30th Street area had earlier expressed concerns about additional stormwater runoff and drainage through the new plat.
John Pyle told the commission that a group of neighbors met with Rohr, Curtis Deines, superintendent of the Planning & Development Division, and Kate Armstrong, Planning & Zoning technician, who explained the city's stormwater policy to them.
The stormwater management regulations are written so that the post-development cannot shed any more water than the pre-development, which happens through the mandatory retention area.
"They pretty much settled all our concerns," Pyle said. "They were very, very clear in explaining when we had a question...and just put our minds at ease."
The development is designed to have two points of access from Columbine and to include green space for the drainage way running north to south across the property. Street access to future 33rd Street improvements at the north end of the development will also be provided.
A multi-use path will be incorporated from 33rd Street south along Columbine to 27th Street, utilizing the stormwater drainage area/green space.
Also approved was a low bid award of $3.9 million from Smoky Hill, LLC, Salina, for infrastructure in 90 acres owned by the city at Interstate 70 Exit 161.
Because the bid was about $1 million below budget, an upgrade of the 27th Street roadway from the intersection of 27th and Commerce to the new intersection of the internal street will be constructed for an additional $160,000. An additional $203,417 contingency will also be added.
Funding for construction services will be paid from general obligation bonds. A portion of the project will be funded with a $2 million state grant acquired by Grow Hays.
The initial new infrastructure would serve about 11 buildable lots, ranging in size from 2 to 8 acres, for commercial and residential development.