Tarrant commissioners decide to put gated section of Billings Road up for sale
Tarrant County commissioners unanimously decided on Tuesday to put about a quarter mile of road up for sale in hopes of relinquishing control over the stretch.
Nearly a quarter mile of Billings Road behind the La Cantera neighborhood gate has been tended by Tarrant County road workers since Oct. 21, 2008. Work has ranged from inspections and resurfacing to weed eating and lawn mowing. The maintenance records only date back to 2016, but the county’s tab for the stretch of road was $15,745 for that period.
But the short tract can only be accessed by neighbors with the code for the gate that leads into the La Cantera neighborhood.
Republican Commissioner Manny Ramirez said the county should never have been in control of the section of land. He asked the court to consider relinquishing control of the street section whether it be through selling, abandoning or vacating the land.
Putting the section of land up for sale was the best-case scenario, he said in that it would give the commissioners some control over who takes on the responsibility and what should happen to it.
Ramirez said he expects the majority of the La Cantera neighborhood will be pleased to see the Billings Road saga nearing its end.
“It’s been a confusing issue for the last decade, and so hopefully this decision will provide that clarity on exactly what the conditions are, and they know that they have a neighborhood full of private roads,” Ramirez said.