Brittany Kelley
KYLE — The Hays CISD Board of Trustees discussed two land tracts — a future school site and a request from the city of Kyle — at its May 12 meeting.
In the upcoming Waterstone subdivision by developer Lennar Homes, located in south Kyle between FM 150 and Yarrington Road, the district is eyeing land for a future school. According to Hays CISD Chief Operations Officer Max Cleaver, district staff believes the site could be a prime spot for elementary school 19, 20 or 21; it is almost square in shape and has access points on two sides.
Typically, for a school site, staff would move toward a donation agreement immediately, but the timeline of Lennar does not line up with the district’s, since the developer is “up against the clock” to get its permit. By approving a tri-party agreement between the district, Lennar and Hays County, Hays CISD will still receive the land, just through a different process than usual, said Cleaver.
Hays County Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, he continued, and the county attorney added language which “forces” Lennar to donate the school site and limit the infrastructure fees to $1.2 million, which was based on estimated probable cost determined by engineers.
Trustee Byron Severance questioned why the district would aid in creating roads around the future school, if Lennar is going to build them anyway: “We didn’t use to do this. So, I’m curious as to why we’re doing it now and if we opt out of not wanting to do the road, paying for roads … is that going to be a problem for the deal?”
Cleaver stated that participating in infrastructure is how the district is going to receive the free school site. Otherwise, Lennar could choose to not donate the land, requiring the district to buy the land at full price and pay more than it would be to just help with the roads.
“I just want to caution us of moving into these agreements, where we’re just automatically saying now that we’re paying for infrastructure in subdivisions of which they’re building anyway … If we don’t agree to this, then is there another option for a school site for us within any developments in that area,” asked Severance.
Six months ago, the district viewed other sites, so Cleaver stated that staff could present at the next meeting on what was available then, but that they haven’t looked since.
“Land has gone from $5,000 an acre to whatever we pay now and so things are getting more expensive,” said Cleaver. “I think these developers, they know what they hold: they hold the land. So, I think they just know what they’ve got and they're kind of tightening up.”
Trustees Johnny Flores and Geoff Seibel stated that they heard whisperings of potential annexation from either San Marcos or Kyle and if this would affect the land, but Cleaver stated that it would not because they’ll be in the agreement.
No action was taken at the May 12 meeting, but trustees unanimously approved the agreement at the May 19 meeting, without further discussion.
Following this item, the trustees listened to an item that would provide the city of Kyle with several small land tracts for further infrastructure around the Hays CISD Performing Arts Center (PAC).
Cleaver stated that the city is requesting three portions: 0.08 acre, or approximately 3,700 square-foot area, for Cromwell Drive, which will run directly in front of the PAC; 0.0016 acre on Everett Drive for a sidewalk extension; and 0.0960 acre for a roundabout at Cromwell Drive and Kohlers Crossing.
Options for the item included the trustees dedicating the land of use to the city or to receive an appraisal for the property and ask for compensation.
Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright suggested the latter and to negotiate market value, as he visited with city staff to offer a trade of a fence in front of the PAC for the land, but was told to just “ask for money” because it would be “too messy.”
“I feel like we’ve given them a lot of things in that little area,” said trustee Vanessa Petrea, citing the trade that the school did for Heroes Memorial Park. “I didn’t even get a thank you note for that veterans park swap, but I'll let it slide. They do seem to forget that we have this great partnership and I’m sad that they’re not here tonight to formally talk to us about what this is about. I would like to see an appraisal.”
Runkle and Flores were also in agreement for an appraisal to be brought back as soon as it is available. Because of this, the item was delayed until the information can be brought back to trustees.
To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/4k0d7Ow.
