San Angeloans Angry Over City Plans to Close Cox Lane

During the public comment section of item 10 citizens that lived in the area (a healthy representation) offered a list of reasons why they did not want Cox Lane abandoned. The two main concerns were the drainage and the increase in traffic through their neighborhoods. 

"Thirteen years ago I purchased my home on Parkview, and in that neighborhood, because it was quiet and it reminded me of the small town I grew up in," said one commenter. "This will disappear if traffic is rerouted to our street."

The council discussed the matter for over an hour. One council member, Karen Hesse-Smith, was very skeptical on approving the item. She claimed that there had to be more information on not only the outcome of traffic but what would happen with final planning.

In the end it the council did approve the motion 3-2, with Mayor Brenda Gunter, Councilman Tommy Hiebert, and Councilman Harry Thomas voting in favor of the closure. Councilpersons Larry Miller and Hesse-Smith voted no. Councilwoman Lucy Gonzalez was absent and Councilman Tom Thompson who joined the meeting via Zoom earlier had left the meeting by the time the vote was called. To pass an ordinance, at least four votes are required, according to the City Charter.

The vote will be revisited at a future council meeting, possibly the next one on Jan. 31.

If council finally approves the closure, the end of Cox Lane will not happen overnight. 

"Cox abandonment may not happen until ten years from now because unless the developer has a plan for an approved plat. It's just really the question mark of abandoning Cox lane at some point, at some time, when some developer decides to do some project," said Mayor Gunter.