UPDATE: Travel plaza proposal pulled from Thursday agenda.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays city commissioners will review a development proposal Thursday evening for the Big Creek Travel Plaza.

Michael Woofter of NWK Investments, Colby, wants to develop 23 acres of land at the northwest corner of 230th Avenue and 55th Street. The area would have to be annexed into the city and also have municipal infrastructure extended to it.

The developer wants the city to allow two funding incentives—a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district and a Community Improvement District (CID)–to help finance the $28 million project, and to create the necessary water, sewer, and street infrastructure.

According to Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty, the requested incentives may amount to $21 million over 22 years.  The developer has offered to finance, construct, and oversize the infrastructure.

Dougherty said city staff has given the proposal a favorable recommendation to commissioners.

“If this project is developed as it is presented, the city will receive added sales tax monies. We looked at direct costs and direct revenues and the project does pan out even with the incentives,” Dougherty said.

The project would create a travel plaza, restaurants and hotel on the property.

In addition to increased sales taxes, Dougherty said there are other benefits to the community at large with the proposed water main improvements, which would create additional water sales tax. Transient guest tax revenues would also increase.

The new property taxes would be used for the TIF for the first few years, Dougherty added.

NWK Investments expects the project would create 69 full-time and 46 part-time jobs.

Click here to read the proposal for Big Creek Travel Plaza.