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Hays council urges residents to press county opposition to Hays Commons development
Summary
City officials urged residents to submit comments and attend a June 9 Hays County commissioners meeting opposing a proposed Hays Commons development agreement, citing water, wastewater and mapping concerns and a 90‑day abatement in the TLAP administrative process.
The City of Hays encouraged residents to submit public comments and attend the Hays County Commissioners Court hearing on the Hays Commons development agreement, saying the county-level proposal has unresolved environmental and procedural issues. Mayor Lydia Bridal Valdez and several council members said the administrative law judge granted a 90‑day abatement on the TLAP application and that the city has prepared official comments opposing the proposed development agreement.
Council members and residents raised several concrete concerns about the project’s proposed wastewater treatment plan and mapping accuracy, including an alleged plan to spray up to 150,000 gallons of treated effluent near neighborhood areas and possible impacts to the Edwards Aquifer. “We have until midnight tonight to submit public comments opposing this,” the mayor said as the city organized residents to appear at the county hearing and to submit digital comments if they could not attend in person. Council also said the city had circulated a PowerPoint provided by the developer that staff believes contains inaccuracies about boundaries and ingress routes.
Speakers at the council meeting described two recent meetings with Hays County officials, where attendees said the county’s presentation and proposed timeline seemed rushed. Council members said they and environmental partners had prepared and would present formal opposition at the county hearing. The city also flagged a letter from the City of Austin that, according to council discussion, asked county leaders to delay action because multiple questions (including water, sewage and traffic) remain unresolved.
Council asked residents to wear coordinating shirts to increase visibility and to sign up to speak in person if they wished; staff said official city comments were ready to submit and that Christine Doan and Mayor Valdez planned to present at the county hearing. The meeting concluded with a request that residents share talking points prepared by the city and submit written comments before the county’s deadline.
