La Bota Ranch residents voice complaints of unsafe environment along Mines Road

La Bota Ranch is a master-planned subdivision west of Mines Road and north of Loop 20 that was constructed in the early '90s. On Wednesday, residents demanded the city get rid of manufacturing companies and developments near their school and homes, referring to the unsafe environment it has created. less La Bota Ranch is a master-planned subdivision west of Mines Road and north of Loop 20 that was constructed in the early '90s. On Wednesday, residents demanded the city get rid of manufacturing companies and ... more Photo: Google Maps/Street View Photo: Google Maps/Street View Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close La Bota Ranch residents voice complaints of unsafe environment along Mines Road 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

Frustrated parents and homeowners at La Bota Ranch are demanding that the city get rid of the manufacturing companies and developments near their school and homes.

Community members said the air pollution, traffic noise and congestion along Mines Road has created an unsafe environment for residents, especially children attending Muller Elementary School.

During a community meeting Wednesday night at the elementary school, Laredo City Councilman George Altgelt said he will ask the city to not approve a new development in his district.

"The City of Laredo is the second biggest port in the Western hemisphere," Altgelt said. "Ninety percent of that second biggest port is District 7, and you all live in the middle."

Homeowners also circulated a petition to change the light manufacturing zones, called M1s, into either residential or community business areas.

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La Bota Ranch is a master-planned community, and homeowners said the master plan intended it to only be residential.

Vanessa Perez, a founder of Homeowners Voices United, said the conversation started when she noticed several semi-trucks parked in a row near the school without a permit.

"Some of the trailers were refrigerated, that there could be potentially hazardous material stored there," Perez said. "The (lot is) at a little higher elevation, so we were thinking some of that could come this way with the breeze or runoff. And the lot had the trailers park there before they were even approved."

She said Mines Road is also already congested with traffic, and the manufacturing zones add to it. She said this prevents residents from using exits if they needed to evacuate.

When the property along Mines Road was first annexed, Altgelt said it was originally a light manufacturing zone.

"In subsequence to that, your HOA has made various downgradings of the zone changes into (community business zones), into (different residential zones)," Altgelt said. "But there are these pockets of M1s, one in particular right next to this school."

The city's legal department attended Wednesday's meeting, as well. Altgelt said that in conversations with the department, they realized the city should request a zone change for the area from a light manufacturing zone into a community business zone.

Community business zones, called B3s, are for residential shopping areas, such as stores and restaurants.

Altgelt said it may be difficult to make the entire area a residential zone because it may constitute as taking away homeowners' property.

"If we were to take 10 acres away from Mr. Valdez, who is owner of that piece of land right there, that's $2.4 million that we could be forced to take," Altgelt said. "We are trying not to get sued as the city."

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He said he suggests taking the M1 zone along Mines Road, the M1 overlaying the HOA offices and another M1 pocket and making them community business zones.

Homeowner Ethel Perez has lived at La Bota Ranch for 15 years and is a retired UISD teacher who substitutes at Muller Elementary School.

"Years back, before I moved here, I had some friends that were downtown, and one of my friends said, 'I'm going to buy a gas mask,'" she said. "Because at that time all the trucks were crossing I-35. If something spilled downtown, we're going to be sitting ducks over here."

Aurora Garcia, a Muller Elementary parent, said she is concerned about the hazardous materials near the school due to the surrounding manufacturing companies.

"I hope this ends up happening that they don't put (the light manufacturing zone) there because it's very dangerous, from everything I heard and the questions being asked," Garcia said. "We don't know who these people are either. We don't want them around our kids. It's scary."

Lisa Dreher can be reached at 956-728-2567 or lisa.dreher@lmtonline.com