Kyle residents press council on Windy Hill access and sharp ETJ water‑rate hikes
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Summary
Residents packed public comment to urge the City of Kyle to reconsider access changes proposed for the Windy Hill corridor and to pause or revisit recent outside‑city (ETJ) water‑rate increases. Council followed public comment with executive session and returned to approve several land and infrastructure actions while promising further public outreach on some items.
Dozens of residents used the citizen‑comment period at the Feb. 17 Kyle City Council meeting to press elected leaders on two sharply felt issues: a planned access change near the Windy Hill corridor that speakers said could cut off customers to a proposed Texas Best convenience store, and a recent spike in water bills for neighborhoods outside city limits.
Oscar Garza, introduced himself as a traffic‑engineering consultant for the Altiguera convenience‑store group, and urged the council to “step back” from the current entrance design for the project, arguing it may shift traffic problems upstream or downstream and urging exploration of alternative access designs that would preserve safety while maintaining economic access to the site. Julio Cerda, who identified himself as representing TexFest and described 27 years in engineering and municipal management, warned that changing access could drive customers to other stores and asked the city to work with property owners on designs that “work both economically and safely.” Joseph Phillips and other business representatives said their engineers believe moving the eastern access farther back — up to 300–350 feet — could preserve safe access for the convenience store and adjacent uses.
Several speakers from the 6 Creeks neighborhood then told council the city’s recent ETJ water‑rate changes were causing financial hardship. Ken Gribble, Sharon Thompson, Dana Gribble and others described winter bills well above their usual usage and asked the council to pause or reconsider the outside‑city increases and to honor existing contractual rate limits they say apply to their subdivisions. Leslie O’Pry and other residents called for a forensic audit and for greater transparency about consulting studies referenced by staff and consultants.
City staff listened during the public‑comment period and later in the meeting acknowledged residents’ concerns; council members asked staff about whether contracts, ordinance language, and engineering studies had been reviewed and whether further public engagement was possible. No formal policy action on water rates was taken at the meeting; council members directed staff to bring certain items back for more discussion in future meetings and work sessions.
What happens next: Council directed staff to continue outreach on several items discussed during public comment; the city manager and legal staff will provide follow‑up materials and timeline options for future council review.