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Residents warn of safety, drainage risks if new development uses McGarity Lane access
Summary
Three McGarity Lane residents told the Lucas City Planning & Zoning Commission that a proposed retail/warehouse project north of Tractor Supply should not use McGarity as vehicle access, citing a narrow 16‑foot road, past truck incidents that blocked buses and damaged property, and concerns about increased runoff and erosion.
Residents of Foxglow and the McGarity Lane dead‑end told the Lucas City Planning & Zoning Commission on Aug. 14 that a proposed retail/warehouse development north of Tractor Supply should not rely on McGarity for access, saying the road is too narrow and too fragile for heavy delivery vehicles and that drainage and erosion problems have worsened since nearby development.
Julie Judd, who said she lives at 445 Pennington in Foxglow, described McGarity as "16 feet wide" and "crumbling," and said trucks have previously become stuck and torn up residents' sprinklers. "We had one case where a semi tried to turn around, got stuck and blocked the school bus trying to drop kids off," Judd said, urging the commission to require an alternate access point or improve McGarity before allowing project access.
Tracy Ayer, who lives in the dead‑end portion of McGarity Lane, pressed staff and the commission for the results of the drainage study and asked whether the development would be retail with warehouse space or merely self‑storage. She asked that construction be required to display "obvious signage" and that clearer "no through traffic" signs be posted to prevent drivers and trucks from entering the dead‑end portion of the road.
Curtis Hilton said erosion behind his property has increased since recent concrete work upslope and urged additional retention or other drainage measures. "Without a way to improve that road from Pennington to the blacktop, I don't see any way out of the issues we're going to have from the added traffic," Hilton said, noting he has lived on McGarity for 35 years.
No formal action was taken on the residents' concerns during the Planning & Zoning meeting. Chair invited residents to bring the same comments to a City Council meeting, and staff and developers present acknowledged they had communicated with neighbors. The commission proceeded with its agenda items after hearing the three public comments.
Next steps: the concerns raised during public comment may be considered by staff during site‑plan or access determinations and can be repeated at the City Council hearing the chair suggested.
