By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

Two lots located west of Hays City Hall, 1507 Main, soon will become a parking area, but not everyone is happy about it.

Neighbors surrounding the property at 108 and 110 W. Sixth have expressed concerns about the project. Bob and Mary Beth Diehl, whose home will be located adjacent to the parking lot, have been communicating their concerns to city officials this week.

"I think everyone's pretty much accepted that the city commission voted to buy these houses, and they've leveled these houses," Bob Diehl said. "That's happened. What we'd like to do is have this as nice as possible."

One of the homes was donated to Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County, and a second is being demolished by city staff.

The Hays City Commission voted 3-0 to rezone the property, with Commissioner Henry Schwaller IV abstaining and Commissioner Troy Hickman absent, allowing additional parking space to be created for City Hall employees and visitors.

Among the Diehls' main concerns is the fact they have not seen a finalized plan for construction of the parking lot. Public Works Director Brenda Herrman, who met with the Diehls on Wednesday, said the plan is in the works and will be presented to city staff as early as next week.

Herrman said the demolition had to be completed before the plan could be finished to allow for correct elevation measurements.

"The plans are moving forward, and we would hope to be able to visit with them next week and make sure that everybody is singing out of the same book," Herrman said, noting city staff is making efforts to be more communicative.

The Diehls have expressed hope that the parking lot could be aesthetically pleasing, with the possible inclusion of green space. Flooding is another concern for the neighborhood, which occasionally has drainage issues following heavy precipitation, Bob Diehl said.

"If where you used to have rain being soaked into the ground there's only concrete, it's not going to be better," Diehl said. "Nobody can tell us exactly what's going to happen or what they intend to have happen."

According to city zoning regulations, the city will construct a fence separating the Diehls' property from the parking lot. At this point, plans include construction of a new fence and a retaining wall, as well as curb and guttering work, City Manager Toby Dougherty said.

"We would like whatever fence that goes up to benefit them as well as us," Dougherty said. "As long as it serves our needs, that's fine; if it serves their needs, that's great."

Dougherty said he also has requested greenery to be included in the final design, and drainage issues will be addressed as well.

Minor damage, such as broken boards on the Diehl's existing fence and a damaged drain pipe, has occurred during the demolition process, and city staff will make any needed repairs, Herrman said, noting a new fence soon will be constructed.

There also are tentative plans to replace a generator at city hall in 2010 to help alleviate neighborhood noise concerns, she said.

"We want to be a good neighbor. That's the most important message I could say," Herrman said. "We should have communicated better with the Diehls, and we will certainly do that from this point forward."