Following an executive session Jan. 21, the Kyle City Council voted 5-2 to approve the acquisition of property at 103 and 105 Veterans Drive. Council directed the city manager to use existing city funds for a “fair and reasonable price.”

Council members Miguel Zuniga and Michael Tobias voted against the item.

“I don’t see the immediate strategic need to acquire these properties at this present time,” Zuniga said. “I think this is a decision that is being rushed, so I would be opposed to this.”

The overview

The two properties total 1.65 acres, according to Assistant City Manager Amber Schmeits. They are adjacent to Gregg-Clarke Park and the VFW post, across from Los Vaqueros Cafe & Grill.


The buildings on the properties previously housed various businesses, including a floral shop, a landscaping company, and a roofing business, but are currently vacant.

Schmeits and Council Member Mark McKinney said council will discuss potential uses for the properties at a Visioning Workshop in March. Possibilities include expanding the park, expanding the maintenance shop, using the land for economic development, or repurposing it as a water facility due to the nearby water tanks on Veterans Drive.

“The exact details of what we will do with the property will get hashed out whenever we go to the Visioning Workshop, but I definitely see it as an opportunity to beautify Gregg-Clarke Park and have that more opened up,” McKinney said. “Especially as we’re doing the additions to the skate park—we’re going to need more land to go with it.”

Digging deeper


The purchase price is still under negotiation with the property owners, who approached the city about selling rather than the city seeking them out.

The acquisition was discussed in an executive session instead of a public forum, as all property purchases in Kyle are handled this way to protect the city and secure the best possible deal for taxpayers, according to Schmeits.

McKinney said the council first discussed the property in executive session at its Jan. 7 meeting.
There is a sign on 103 Veterans Drive that reads 'Gateway to the Hill Country.' Council Member Marc McKinney hopes to preserve the sign. (Jamie Moore/Community Impact)
There is a sign on 103 Veterans Drive that reads "Gateway to the Hill Country." Council member Marc McKinney hopes to preserve the sign. (Jamie Moore/Community Impact)
On the property, there is also a city sign that reads “Gateway to the Hill Country” with “Kyle, Texas” underneath. McKinney said he hopes to preserve the sign.

“I think there's a glimpse into Kyle's past that's kind of been long forgotten,” McKinney said. “It says ‘Gateway to the Hill Country,’ and that's a phrase that long ago was associated with Kyle, and it's kind of falling away, and I want to preserve any bit of history that we can.”