Hays High’s new $4.4 million baseball and softball complex is expected to be finished by 2019, but not without concern from residents of neighboring Mountain City.
On May 13, Mountain City residents met with HCISD officials to relay worries about the new ballpark, said Mountain City Mayor Phillip Taylor.
Some of the discussion stemmed from concern over potential noise, light pollution and flooding, which is a prevalent issue during rainfall on Live Oak Court, located adjacent to the school district’s property line.
However, the district affirms that the stadium is following building codes, drainage requirements, civil engineering codes and standards set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
“This project will not have an adverse impact on the existing drainage problems that the neighborhood (Mountain City) has experienced for a number of years,” said Tim Savoy, public information officer for the HCISD. “We value our Mountain City neighbors and appreciate the opportunity to have discussed the project with them.”
Savoy said the maximum candlepower at the property line will be .24, which should not pose a problem.
The stadium was approved by district voters as part of HCISD’s $250 million bond package. However, this has left some Mountain City residents to fear that their concerns at the council meeting will not be met.
A homeowner located on Live Oak Court said she fears property values in Mountain City will take a hit after the completion of the stadium.
The stadium is located only a few meters from her property line and the noise from the construction foreshadows what is to come when the project is complete.
“We’re scared, to say the least,” the resident said. “One thing that always made Mountain City so special is how secluded and quiet our community is. Everyone here is at peace with their neighbors. This baseball stadium can hurt our quality of life. Do you want to live next to a stadium?”
The construction site for the stadium, which sits closer than 50 yards from residents’ backyards, is orientated to where the batter and catcher are closest to Mountain City. Although the outfield is on the other side of the lot, residents fear foul balls could cause issues to their properties.
