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Harlingen residents press commission to halt Horseshoe Point variance over traffic, drainage and notice concerns
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Summary
After extensive public comment from nearby residents, the Harlingen City Commission left on the table a request to allow a single entrance to the proposed 390-home Horseshoe Point subdivision, and asked staff to hold a workshop and commission further traffic and drainage study.
Dozens of Harlingen residents urged the City Commission to delay action on a variance that would allow the Horseshoe Point subdivision to open with one entrance, saying the plan endangers emergency access, increases traffic congestion on Morris Road and risks worsened flooding for adjacent neighborhoods.
Kate Holt, a resident of the Waters Edge subdivision, said the project "runs contrary to the expectations that many of us had when we moved into this area," and told commissioners she supports growth "but it must be done with responsibly and in accordance with our city ordinances to ensure Harlingen remains a safe and enjoyable place to live." Several other speakers, including Hector Fuentes and Alice Yuri Becerra, detailed repeated flooding in March, limited drainage capacity, and the absence of sidewalks and lighting on Morris Road.
Commissioners listened through the public comment period and during discussion acknowledged the volume of opposition. Commissioner Oscar (surname not stated in the transcript) proposed leaving the item tabled and scheduling additional public outreach; other commissioners pressed for a traffic study and an engineering review. Mayor Norma Zebubeda said staff could organize a workshop with engineers, developers and residents and that public comment would be allowed in that forum.
Rather than vote to approve the variance, the commission left the item on the table while directing staff to pursue additional analysis and community meetings. The item would need to return to a future agenda for formal action after those steps.
The commission’s decision stopped short of approving any change to code requirements; it also preserved neighbors’ requests that the city require two points of egress or provide stronger drainage and emergency-access plans before approving high-density development in the area.
Next steps: commissioners asked staff to explore a traffic study, a drainage analysis and to host a public workshop so residents could question developers and engineers; no new rezoning or variance was granted at the meeting.
