Harlingen commission leaves Horseshoe Pointe subdivision variance on table after residents raise traffic and drainage concerns

The Harlingen City Commission left on the table a developer's request for a variance to permit one entrance, rather than the two normally required, for the proposed Horseshoe Pointe subdivision after an extended public comment period raising safety, traffic and drainage concerns.

The item concerned a subdivision planned in the city's 3.5-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction on the south side of Morris Road. Residents at the meeting said the project would include roughly 390 homes and that the single access point would create a safety risk and exacerbate existing drainage problems.

Why it matters: The variance would change local access requirements for a large subdivision in an area that residents described as already prone to flooding and on a residential road that lacks sidewalks and adequate lighting. Commissioners agreed a broader…