By Brittany Anderson
Hays Commons, a large development being proposed by MileStone Community Builders in the small city of Hays, continues to raise infrastructure and environmental concerns for residents.
During the council meeting on April 4, attorney Jeff Howard and engineering consultant Dan Ryan, both working with MileStone, were present to discuss and provide updates on the development. MileStone CEO Garrett Martin was not present despite being expected, according to Mayor Pro Tem Lydia Bryan-Valdez.
MileStone has also proposed a large development in Buda off FM 967 — the Bailey and Armbruster tracts — that would be nearly adjacent to Hays Commons, and has raised traffic, safety and similar environmental and infrastructure concerns for its residents.
The original development agreement for Hays Commons was signed in September 2013 with Walters Southwest. MileStone has been looking to take over the development for around a year and a half.
The original, and current, development calls for hundreds of homes and a one million square foot retail center.
MileStone’s new agreement proposes 271 residential units — 206 being within Hays ETJ (extraterritorial jurisdiction) and the remaining 65 within Austin’s ETJ — that will include a mixture of quarter-acre, third-acre and one-acre lots. Additionally, there is approximately 12 acres of commercial space planned.
Howard explained that their proposed plan is in keeping with some of the objectives that have been expressed by the community.
“The decision the city is at is, do you want that larger retail space in the current development agreement that will generate sales tax revenue, or have something more in-line with lower-density residential on the other side of the creek that is not connected to you?” Howard said.
But Hays residents and some council members have not been easily swooned by presentation maps — during the meeting, they again brought up concerns regarding lot sizes, wastewater infrastructure and the effects of putting a development of this size over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone.
Regarding a wastewater treatment facility, Howard said that although they aren’t “shutting the door” on the possibility, they are operating under the assumption that the city of Austin will not serve Hays Commons.
As such, MileStone will seek to enact a MUD (municipal utility district) that would levy a tax on homeowners within the development to pay for the infrastructure and water, sewage and drainage services that would be provided.
Bryan-Valdez pointed out that a MUD would require long-term maintenance and voiced concerns not only about potential odor and airborne particles leading to health issues, but that the upkeep responsibility would fall to Hays residents. Howard, however, said Hays would not be in the MUD and would not be affected.
Despite council voting 3-1 during their March 14 meeting to hold a workshop session to better look at the development agreement before voting on the item, which would transfer the assignment from Walters Southwest to MileStone, a session has not been initiated yet. Meanwhile, residents and council members still have many questions left unanswered.
Council went into executive session during the April 4 meeting to receive further legal counsel regarding the development but no action was taken.
This is a developing story.
