By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The next steps in development of a property west of Walmart were approved unanimously by Hays city commissioners Thursday night.
The commission approved rezoning a portion of Ottley Addition from Agriculture (A-L) to Commercial General District (C-2). They also approved the Ottley First Addition Final Plat, which is comprised of three lots, two that are approximately 1.4 acres each and the other lot approximately 3.1 acres with access off West 43rd St.
The property will be the site of a Hilton Garden Inn and convention center.
Public Works Director Jesse Rohr told commissioners the only questions from the Planning Commission, which had already approved both actions, was about stormwater runoff.
“I just want to make sure everyone understands that generally, regulations require post-development runoff to be less than or equal to pre-development runoff. That’s said in a book about this thick,” Rohr added, demonstrating with his fingers held wide apart. Commissioners chuckled appreciatively.
“A stormwater management engineered design plan is required as part of the submittal project as the property is planned,” Rohr assured the commission.
“I appreciate you explaining about the stormwater,” said Commissioner Shaun Musil. “Everybody I’ve talked to is excited about what potentially will be happening up there, but that’s the number one question. I think that’s very interesting that it won’t actually add to the water running down south (of I-70). I’m excited for this.”
“The changes in stormwater runoff management have been substantial since the 1999 to 2002 period when the Walmart Super Center was developed north of I-70,” Rohr explained.
“We’ve got different enforcement now, different regulations the city is required to follow. Our own regulations are different in general. Properties developed over the last two to five years or so, especially commercial properties, you’ll see bioswales, rain gardens and those types of things,” he said. “They’re not there just for aesthetics but to serve a purpose in controlling the runoff both in quality and quantity of the water coming off the property.”
A possible second phase of the Hilton project includes construction of a new restaurant and/or other commercial retail.