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Friday, July 30, 2010 | Serving Del Rio and Val Verde County: Since 1929
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Housing Authority seeks to close off streets
Published August 3, 2009
A request by the Del Rio Housing Authority to install security gates at one of its subdivisions was not well received by members of the city council.
Housing authority architects asked the Del Rio City Council to consider allowing installation of eight automatic security gates at the Casas Del Rio development located off Dr. Fermin Calderon Boulevard/U.S. Highway 277.
The housing authority is seeking to install six-foot-high iron fencing around the complex with automatic security gates in eight locations to limit traffic at night.
While the council had no qualms about the fencing, members took issue with the gates, which would block the flow traffic on Arranaga Street.
Del Rio Police Department Chief Waylon Bullard also voiced concern over installing gates along Arranaga Street, which bisects the housing development.
“We do not approve of this plan,” said Bullard. “This development was not designed to be gated.”
While the housing authority is seeking to slow nighttime traffic in the area, and thus the potential for criminal activity, Bullard said gates would only slow down his officers.
“All this will do is make it more difficult for us to get in there,” said Bullard, adding that of the 15 or so calls police officers make to the area, the majority are related to crimes committed by people living in the complex.
Del Rio Mayor Efrain Valdez echoed Bullard's concern.
“My biggest fear is the gates won't work when there is an emergency,” said Valdez.
According to a map presented to the city council in its agenda packet Tuesday night the gates would not affect traffic on streets leading to the neighborhood behind the development.
But, Councilman Mike Wrob had a concern of a different nature.
“With iron fencing and gates, it seems to me this would create a prison for the people living there,” said Wrob.
The council advised housing authority architects to meet with the city's planning and zoning department before proceeding with the project.
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