KYLE — On July 16, Kyle City Council heard discussions on the future of the Sportsplex and the prospect of a local favorite, Hays Co. Bar-B-Que, coming to town.
Sportsplex After years of discussion, council members were presented with conceptual designs for the long-awaited Sportsplex. Mark Maldonado, senior principal with Stantec Consulting Services, explained that the site is 90 acres, located along FM 1626, north of the Brick and Mortar District, and will aim to create a “unique destination that embodies the proud and vibrant spirit of our community.” The site concept includes four basketball courts, 17 bleachers, 30 shade pavilions, five youth turf fields, 11 pickleball courts, ten full-sized turf fields, four playgrounds, two miles of trails, five volleyball courts, five shuffleboard courts, a 750-space parking garage, a plaza and an approximately 100,000 square-foot indoor recreational facility. The indoor portion of the facility will have multipurpose courts, an indoor track, catering kitchen and open workout areas. According to Ryan Sheridan of Huden Partners, it takes approximately five years to stabilize an event schedule, so the facility is typically losing money “in terms of bottom-line performance,” until operations become more efficient: “The goal of these facilities, ultimately, is to break even and to be that tool for the community. These things across the country are not money printing machines.” The event schedule will be driven by tournaments, which will generate an estimate of 47,500 room nights on an annual basis, according to agenda documents, and local and hourly usage. This, combined with out-of-town spending, leads to a projection of more than $786 million over the course of 30 years. When discussing the finance, city of Kyle Assistant City Manager Jesse Elizondo stated that staff and consultants have used a phasing approach, beginning with phase one that would have a cost estimate of around $65 million, which would include site preparation, the indoor recreation center, an outdoor area and many of the exterior improvements and amenities. This money comes from general obligation bonds and has a tax rate impact of approximately $0.0503 per $100 of valuation. The estimated total cost, prior to finalizing details and changes, is $185,615,701.20. Although excited about the designs, Mayor Travis Mitchell brought forth concerns of the heat that comes with using turf. According to Mitchell, it is about 10 degrees hotter than grass. Because of this, he suggested an indoor air conditioned area, an outdoor shaded turf, such as a pavilion, and using an irrigation system with reclaimed water for an outdoor field, similar to what the Plum Creek Golf Course does. “To have something like this centralized would be important for all the kids in the area, all the region. But for the adults and everybody else, I know that it’s going to be a really big investment. I think the draw, if we do this right and we program it right, [is] that it can pay for itself and that’s the important thing,” said council member Robert Rizo. The next step is to begin the master planning process, which will address concerns and changes that council has, as well as a community outreach component, where feedback will be received to know what the priorities are for residents. In order for the financing for phase one to be presented to residents, council must vote to add a bond proposition to the November ballot no later than Monday, Aug. 19.
Hays Co. Bar-B-Que Victoria Vargas, director of economic development, announced that family-owned restaurant Hays Co. Bar-B-Que has plans to settle in Kyle after selling its previous San Marcos location to the Hays County Food Bank. The restaurant opened in 2007 and has been featured in Texas Monthly’s top 50 barbeque joints since 2013, explained Vargas. The property that owners Michael and Asenette Hernandez are looking at is at 505 S. Old Highway 81, which was previously used as a tire shop. The director stated that the property is blighted and the Hernandez’s purchase of the location will serve as an opportunity to begin the westside downtown redevelopment. “It needs some work and some tender loving care that Michael is prepared, and his family are prepared, to put into this project,” Vargas said. Improvements would include paved parking, replacing the perimeter fencing and replacing light poles. The proposed concept by the family is a 2,000 square-foot restaurant, with a large playscape, an outdoor music stage and a walkup bar. After the completion of the first phase, a second to bring retail establishments on top of the restaurant is proposed, as well as using repurposed shipping containers as additional restaurant options. Infrastructure upgrades, such as waterline and fire hydrant improvements, along with an upgrade to the electrical service and undergrounding telecom lines will total $300,000. Because of this, a one-time $300,000 grant for utility improvements is proposed to be awarded after the owners have the utilities in place and meet set benchmarks for the first year. Vargas also mentioned adding the three-year restaurant incentive, which is 50% property tax rebate and a 50% sales tax rebate. “To see this area enhanced, as well, when it’s kind of been an eyesore for decades, to see it become something that will be a destination and something our local residents will come out and visit, but also everybody from the region and around the world to visit, it’s exciting,” said Rizo. Council unanimously voted to direct staff to bring back an agreement that includes the previously mentioned incentives at the Aug. 6 meeting, where they will then vote whether or not to approve it. The Hernandez family has yet to close on the property, as it was waiting on council approval, but plans to begin the project immediately. “My family and I are all excited about making the move and, just to [emphasize], we don’t want to serve the community, we want to be the community,” said Michael.
A motion to put a non-binding proposition on the November ballot failed 3-4, with Mitchell Rizo, Bear Heiser and Lauralee Harris dissenting. The proposition would have given residents the opportunity to vote on whether council members should be eligible to receive health insurance benefits on the same terms as full-time city employees. The next meeting will be held on Aug. 6.
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