City Planner views Eagle Pass’ growth optimistically

By:  Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Eagle Pass Planning Director Bryan Shea presented the Eagle Pass Planning Department’s monthly report to the Eagle Pass City Council at their April 1, 2014 monthly meeting, citing a brisk growth of real estate developments within the city limits as an optimistic sign of positive growth in Eagle Pass.

Mr. Shea presented an overall outlook for the month of March/April in building and development projects throughout the City of Eagle Pass.

Shea optimistically stated that the city is seeing an in-field development trend and growth throughout the City of Eagle Pass, which he feels is attributed to the rezoning of certain areas in the past months approved by the City Council.  “We have a lot of contractors building Apartment complexes and smaller residential developments all throughout the city in existing developments. This brings a fresh new approach and increases the value and appearances of neighborhoods. From my experience these are signs of a vibrant community,” said City Planner Shea.

Shea further stated that the willingness of contractors and developers to buy and invest in existing neighborhoods is a sign of growth and confidence in our community.   Shea also stated that these are all positive signs of how they (developers) value the existing neighborhoods and that they are not necessarily going outside the city to develop and build in the outskirts of the City of Eagle Pass.

Shea also briefed City Council on the new development of the Academy Sports & Outdoors retail store that will have a 50,000 square foot area and will be another great addition to the commercial sector of the City of Eagle Pass.  Many Eagle Pass and northern Mexico sports enthusiasts are excited that they will no longer have to travel to San Antonio or Laredo to shop at the nearest Academy stores.  Construction on the new Eagle Pass Academy Sports & Outdoors retail store has begun and should be completed in several months.

Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu then asked City Planner Bryan Shea on the issue of abandoned structures within the City limits and how these issues were being addressed to make sure that these problems are rectified by the property owners and the City of Eagle Pass.

Shea replied that the issuance of abandoned structures notifications had been issued to property owners and that the City Planning Department is in the process of getting the proper documentation prepared to work with the City Attorney to go through the court system to legally address the situation and rectify the abandoned properties problem in Eagle Pass.

Shea also notified the City Council that the City of Eagle Pass Buildings Inspector recently completed a recertification of inspections training course in Austin, Texas and is ready to continue working on the abandoned properties as well as other general building inspection duties and responsibilities

Shea concluded by stating that the recent growth in real estate developments within the City of Eagle Pass is a positive sign of the City’s overall growth future as being optimistic.