Harlingen kicks off series of Town Hall 'listening sessions'
Jul. 25—HARLINGEN — For decades, the city's west side has been booming as developers carve subdivisions out of old farmland.
Now, old country roads crisscross new neighborhoods springing up out of swaths of fields offering lots for sale.
Amid development, growing pains are setting in.
On Tuesday, City Commissioner Rene Perez, who oversees District 5, is leading the first of a series of town hall meetings described as "listening sessions" to give residents a chance to speak up about their concerns.
The city will hold the meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Vela Middle School at 801 S. Palm Boulevard.
During the meetings set within the city's five single-member voting districts, residents' feedback will help commissioners develop a new comprehensive plan aimed at guiding the city into the next decade.
"I'm excited about it," Perez said Monday. "I'm looking forward to getting input from the citizens of Harlingen so we know what they want and what they need. That way we know what we have to do. I want to listen. I want their feedback. I want to know what our constituents want from us. I need them to help me help them."
Drainage
As more subdivisions and retail developments encroach on farmland, drainage has become a big concern in the area stretching from Tucker Road to Bass Boulevard.
"They re-did the roadside ditches to improve the flow of water," Perez said.
Now, hot spots include areas along Bass Boulevard, Stuart Place Road and Russell Lane, he said.
Earlier this year, commissioners passed the new Subdivision Developers Guide, he said, requiring developers to boost drainage standards to include measures such as detention ponds.
As part of a total $4.5 million worth of drainage upgrades, commissioners last week launched a project in the Hick Hill Road area aimed at widening culverts to curb flooding, Perez said.
Road conditions
Across the district, road conditions are a top concern, Perez said.
Along the new subdivisions, many of the old farm roads crisscrossing the district date to the development of farmland decades ago.
"It's the condition of the roads — they're old and some are spotty," Perez said.
After winning election in May 2021, he led a drive aimed at fixing pot holes, he said.
"I'm proud to say District 5 is the district with the least amount of potholes," he said.
As part of the city's $2.5 million street project, crews are busy reconstructing Garrett Road, the narrow country road running across the district.
Now, the project is rebuilding the road from Stuart Place Road to Tucker Road, Perez said.
"Garrett Road was a big issue," he said. "It's one of the big thoroughfares in my district. We're not just paving. We're building it from the bottom up."
Speeding
Along the network of country roads, residents call speeding a big safety concern.
"They want speed bumps and stop signs," Perez said.
So far, he has pushed to install speed bumps along Kingbird Drive, he said.
At City Hall, Perez said he is trying to streamline the process to install six more sets of speed bumps.
"We're doing everything we can," he said. "This is something I intend to deliver for my constituents."
Sewer service
The area's rapid growth has led many developers to plan their subdivisions without sewer connections, leaving residents to deal with septic tanks.
"The area has been growing extremely fast — it's always relied on developers to put in sewer lines," Perez said.
Now, many residents are calling for sewer service.
"They're frustrated," Perez said. "A lot of them have to rely on septic tanks because they don't have sewer lines."
Perez said the WaterWorks System, which has outlined a new $225 million master plan, cannot fund the cost of tying the area's homes to the city's sewer system.
"I wish I could be the commissioner who brings in sewer lines, but that's very, very expensive," he said. "WaterWorks doesn't have the funds to extend lines so the commissioners have to work to find ways to help WaterWorks get the funding they need to extend services."
