Public Road Behind Gates: Tarrant County's Dilemma

0:00From the Daily News Now Network, this is Corey, with the story with Dallas News today. A short stretch of Billings Road in Tarrin County, Texas, sits inside the gated Lecantara neighborhood, but counts as a public road. The county accepted responsibility for it. Back in October 2008, based on maps and plots, from when developers handed over the land in two. 2002. Even though it's gated, officials now have to handle any maintenance needed. Residents outside the Home Owners Association have long used this quarter mile section to reach their properties, but the gate blocks easy access. About 20 owners, including local Steve Simmons, filed a lawsuit in 2023, arguing they should have full rights to the road, without HOA interference. Taxpayers foot the bill for repairs, like recent paving work by county crews, and folks are frustrated that public money goes to a road they can't. Freely Use. Simmons points out it's wearing out and will need more fixes soon. County precinct, for Commissioner Mani Ramirez's office, is digging into how this road ended

1:04up public, despite the gates going up around 2000. Three, they're teaming up with a district attorney's office for answers and possible changes, while the HOA weighs options like taking over the road, or opening up their private streets. Texas law allows some gating on public roads under specific rules, but experts say permanent barriers blocking access aren't okay, as seen in a similar case near Amarillo last year. For now, the county stays on the hook until they sort this out fairly.