Check out six Hays County area government updates, including major development updates, road reevaluations and expanded water access.
On Oct. 20, the cities of San Marcos, Kyle and Buda approved millions in contract revenue bonds to fund the Carrizo Expansion Program, which will expand water distribution to Alliance Regional Water Authority, or ARWA, members from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer.
The overview
The project includes a water treatment plant expansion, water treatment clarification, booster pump station expansion, raw water infrastructure and water treatment solids handling, according to agenda documents.
The project also includes drilling seven Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer wells.
A closer look
Significant water will be added to the three cities’ supplies through the project:
San Marcos: approximately +2,603,829 gallons per day
Kyle: approximately +2,045,929 gallons per day
Buda: approximately +368,660 gallons per day
The Canyon Regional Water Authority is also an ARWA member and will contribute to the project.
Continue reading.
In the Hays County fiscal year 2026-27 budget, adopted on Sept. 15, social services funding was not allocated to the Price Center & Garden.
The county subsequently identified a clerical error, and the Commissioners Court voted to amend the allocations, providing the organization with $10,000.
What happened
When applying for funding in the past, the Price Center & Garden submitted its requests under the name “Greater San Marcos Area Seniors,” Hays County Budget Officer Scott Woodland said. In its FY 2026-27 request, the organization applied under the name Price Center & Garden, resulting in the organization receiving no funds.
The county identified multiple paths to providing the organization with its requested $10,000 in funding, including unaccepted grant awards offered to other organizations.
Read more about it.
The San Marcos City Council approved a zoning change that will accommodate more accessible parking for patients at a new Veterans Affairs, or VA, hospital development on Oct. 20.
The gist
Developers submitted a request to rezone approximately 4.6 acres of land located near the intersection of Wonder World Drive and State Highway 123 from Commercial, or CM, to Business Park, or BP.
The details
While the CM zoning distinction would allow for the hospital’s development, it features parking location restrictions. More flexible parking options would make it easier for patients to access the clinic, said Shannon Mattingly, director of land use and entitlements with Drenner Group.
The City Council approved the change with a unanimous 7-0 vote, voicing its support for the project.
Read on.
On Aug. 18, the Kyle City Council approved an almost $500,000 re-evaluation of 12 intersections where roundabouts were recommended, according to previous Community Impact reporting. The results of intersection analyses at six priority locations were presented on Oct. 20.
The results
The council voted to move forward with roundabouts at the intersections of Center Street at Old Stagecoach Road and Goforth Road at Bunton Creek Road, but switched the plans for the intersections of Windy Hill Road at Cherrywood and Lehman Road at Bunton Creek Road to a continuous Green-T and traditional traffic light.
The Windy Hill Road at Cherrywood roundabout was under construction when the city requested the re-evaluation and will cost an additional $500,000 to switch designs.
Additional equipment, design and construction inflation costs associated with the switch at the Lehman Road at Bunton Creek Road intersection will add $1.5 million to $2.5 million in total costs.
The council voted to table decisions on both Kohlers Crossing intersections until the District 3 council seat, currently held by Claudia Zapata, is filled.
Continue reading.
Sinai Pentecostal Church in San Marcos requested a zoning change for property to allow the development of a new facility for Pennington Funeral Home.
The San Marcos City Council postponed the vote on Oct. 20, risking the partnership between the church and business.
The overview
The site is located in a floodplain and floodway, a water quality zone and buffer zone and the Edwards Aquifer transition zone, according to agenda documents.
Pennington Funeral Home would not be able to participate in the financial partnership with Sinai Pentecostal Church if the development process faced any more delays, said Representative Jessica Glosson Davis.
Read more.
The city may modify portions of three park properties—totaling approximately 3.89 acres—in Buda to provide the right-of-way, or ROW, and public utility easements needed for the Old Black Colony Road Project.
Buda City Council held a public hearing during a regular meeting on Oct. 20 to discuss the proposed change in parkland use.
Zooming in
The land includes:
0.42 acres of Whispering Hollow HOA Parkland
2.40 acres of Whispering Hollow Park
1.07 acres of Summer Pointe Park
The council postponed the vote to the Dec. 1 meeting.
A closer look
The roadway alignment shift into the parkland minimizes or avoids ROW acquisition needs for 12 property owners south of the parkland, reduces costs and adds slight curves to promote traffic calming, according to agenda documents.
City officials hope to break ground in late 2027, and the project is expected to take about one year to complete.
Read the full story.
