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Residents tell Hays council not to support Milestone's high-density plan over water and ecosystem risks
Summary
Neighbors and environmental advocates urged the Hays City Council to refrain from supporting Milestone's proposal that would increase impervious cover and place hundreds of homes over a recharge zone, raising water-quality and habitat concerns.
Residents and environmental advocates told the Hays City Council during public comment that Milestone's proposed subdivision would be too dense for the area and threaten water supplies and natural habitat. "The subdivision will include 700 homes, housing approximately 2,450 people on 250 acres," said Alana Beatty, who identified herself as a neighbor, asking the council not to write a supportive letter to the City of Austin.
A separate presenter identified in the meeting as Mike detailed the technical objections: Milestone is seeking a variance to the SOS ordinance's 15% impervious-cover limit and has asked for 25%. "Milestone is trying to get 25% variance," he said, arguing the increase would raise runoff and flood discharge and that the developer has requested hundreds of thousands of gallons per day of municipal water. Mike and other speakers said the proposed density and increased impervious surface are inconsistent with the surrounding rural development pattern and could increase flood risk and long-term water-quality degradation over the Edwards recharge area.
Speakers asked the council to refrain from taking any formal action that could be interpreted as supporting the variance while the City of Austin considers the developer's application. The comments cited prior local votes and a 3-to-2 Hays County commissioners'court decision that previously rejected a similar application, and speakers urged the council to avoid setting a precedent that would catalyze further development once utility lines are extended.
