By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays city commissioners are supporting an option for the city to purchase a 91-acre tract of property near Interstate 70.
The land is located in the northeast corner of the 27th Street and Commerce Parkway intersection at the east I-70 Exit 161. Total cost of the property is $800,000.
The exclusive irrevocable 18-month option cost is $50,000 and has been secured by a $15,000 payment to the land owner, City Manager Toby Dougherty told commissioners Thursday night. The remaining $35,000 would be prorated over the 18 months, with the option money paid from the Commission Capital Reserve fund.
“I think a lot of conversation needs to be had around it,” said Commissioner Sandy Jacobs, “but from my perspective it’s all pretty positive. There’s some really good possibilities, not only for that property, but enhance all the work we’ve done and the money we spent on Commerce Parkway.”
Vice-Mayor Henry Schwaller pointed out “the connection of Commerce Parkway to Vine Street.” It also helps the city “develop this land parcel and the work we’re doing on 41st Street, bringing these two together,” Schwaller added.
“We’d really like to see more growth in Hays, and not just in retail,” Schwaller continued. “We know because we are landlocked to the west and to the south, that the best path for growth is both north and east.”
Schwaller called the land parcel “affordable” and noted the city already has some infrastructure to Commerce Parkway on the south side of the interchange. “I’m very optimistic this is an excellent ace for us to hold and use in case we have something come back from Retail Strategies and we can move very quickly.”
Last month city commissioners approved a year-to-year contract with Retail Strategies of Birmingham, Alabama, to conduct a retail gap analysis and then recruit new businesses.
The city would have the choice of extending infrastructure and marketing the property, or to work with a developer for the property.
“The timing is very good with Retail Strategies,” agreed Jacobs. She also talked about the city of Salina with four exits off I-35, and “once you’re off you’re moving through the city. I don’t see why that can’t happen in our community as well.”
The recent property transaction further south on Canterbury Drive and the request to change its zoning from Agriculture to Light Industrial also bodes well, according to Schwaller. “Someone would not buy that piece of property and make that commitment unless they intended to build.”
“This option gives us time to see what happens there with the private development and could be a catalyst for that area. I’m very excited about it,” Schwaller said.
Commissioner Shaun Musil said the possibility to develop another I-70 exit in Hays “could be the greatest start to the future for us.” He said the residents he’s talked to “were extremely excited about what could happen.”
Commissioners will vote on the land purchase option at their April 12 regular meeting.
Commissioner Chris Dinkel was absent from Thursday’s work session.