Kyle council approves purchase of Silverado parcel for Vibe Trail despite neighbors' floodplain concerns

KYLE, Texas — The Kyle City Council on Feb. 4 voted unanimously to authorize the city manager to execute documents to buy roughly 7.3 acres adjacent to 110 Western Cove for up to $100,000 to complete a Spring Branch segment of the Vibe Trail.

The purchase, which council approved 7-0, follows years of design work on the Vibe Trail and a 2020 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department trails grant the city used toward the project. Several homeowners who live beside the proposed trail urged the council during the meeting’s citizen comment period to pause the acquisition and reconsider routing the trail through areas the speakers said are drainage easements and within the FEMA 100-year floodplain.

Neighbors told the council the stretch — which staff described as the Spring Branch connector for the Vibe Trail — floods after heavy storms, carries fast runoff and sits behind several back yards. “Just because you can build a trail on this property does not mean you should,” resident Moses Leos told the council during public comments. “When the high water arrives, and it will in our area, I cannot for the life of me think that our city could be putting anyone in danger.”

Terrell Hensley said his household and neighbors have rescued people from that drainage area during storms and questioned who would be liable if a visitor were injured.…