Officials Plan For Consequences Of Rapid Growth

Hays County is the second fastest-growing county in America, according to data released March 26 by the United States Census Bureau.

 

Attention is being directed toward the lack of affordable housing as the population surge ushers in more people looking for homes in Hays County, said James Walker, vice president of the Four Rivers Association of Realtors.

 

Options are limited in Buda, San Marcos and Kyle, Walker said.

 

“It is very difficult for buyers to find the houses that they’re looking for, particularly under the $200,000 price range,” Walker said.

Walker hopes the market will improve, but prospects for affordable housing are expected to remain limited. 

 

“I don’t know of any future plans for brand-new affordable housing units ahead,” Walker said. “(Future) developments that are on the books right now are going to be in the $200,000 price range and up.”

 

Buyers in Kyle are forced to “fight over houses” and “make multiple offers” before they can find homes, he said. 

 

“We had a buyer the other day looking for a house under $200,000 in San Marcos,” Walker said. “There were only seven houses available on the market in that moment in time, and that was it.”

 

Commissioner Mark Jones, Precinct 2, said the rise in the county’s population is a major factor in the jail’s recent issues with overcrowding. 

 

City officials have had to transfer inmates to neighboring counties since July, according to an August 21, 2014 University Star article. 

 

Jones thinks Hays County officials will have to start planning to expand the jail. 

 

“Whatever we do will be at the current (county jail) site, and I think (the new jail) will probably be phased in,” Jones said. “I think we’re probably looking three to five years down the road for this to happen.” 

 

Growth creates opportunities that allow county residents to work where they live and attracts new businesses.

 

“You have more businesses coming to where the people are, and you have a bigger tax base to hopefully lessen the tax base on the current residents,” Jones said.

 

Jones said negative affects of population growth are inevitable despite the new opportunities. 

 

“We’re having a hard time keeping up with infrastructure, so traffic becomes a huge obstacle,” Jones said.

 

Jones said supplying new residents with water is another concern.

 

“The more people we have, the more pressure it puts on our aquifers, and water becomes a bigger issue as we grow,” Jones said.

 

Conflict surrounding water has plagued other growing cities in Hays County, including Buda and Wimberley, but San Marcos is more secure in its plans for the future, said Tom Taggart, executive director of public services.

 

“Obviously we have to plan to supply the population as it exists, and we know the population here is growing,” Taggart said. “I would say that we’re considerably ahead of some of our neighbors in having (water supply) addressed.”

 

San Marcos relies on the Edwards Aquifer and a surface water treatment plant, Taggart said. 

 

“Our current supplies will last us until about 2040, even if we acquired no additional water,” Taggart said. “But we’re acquiring water beyond that, so that we have it on hand and planned for well in advance of the actual need.”

 

City officials began seeking additional water sources about 11 years ago, when the Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency was formed, he said. 

Officials will begin purchasing water from the Carizzo Aquifer in 2023, Taggart said. The second phase of using the aquifer’s water will begin in 2038 and continue to meet needs beyond 2070. 

 

“After 2070, it is likely that the city is going to be doing studies in relation to reuse of our existing water,” Taggart said. “(The studies will) potentially direct potable reuse to augment those supplies as water resources in Texas get much tighter.”