Lytle council moves forward with improving Coal Mine access

By Anton Riecher
A task order for engineering work to extend Juarez Street to FM 683 and grant Lytle’s Coal Mine neighborhood a second entrance and exit was approved by the Lytle City Council Monday night.
“You are taking a vote that is solving an issue that the city has had for 130 years plus,” said Mayor Ruben Gonzalez. “We are finally going to be able to take care of our Coal Mine residents by providing them a secondary entrance and exit for emergencies.”
At present, the only entrance and exit for Coal Mine is a railroad crossing that is frequently blocked by passing trains.
The extension is part of a development agreement with Rowan Digital Infrastructure in connection with a massive $500 million “hyperscaler” data center dubbed “Project Cinco” that is expected to begin construction near Coal Mine in mid-August.
Under the development deal, the cost of the engineering work will be reimbursed to the city, Gonzalez said.
On a motion by District 3 Alderman Dick Emery, the council approved the task order with TRC Engineers by a vote of 4-0. District 2 Alderman Richard Hughes was absent from the meeting.
Much of the Monday night meeting was taken up with considering applications for zoning variances. City Attorney Austin Beck said that since Lytle has no board of adjustment to consider such variances the chores falls to the city council.
On a variance request at 19942 John Wayne Road in the Saddleridge Estates subdivision, the council split two-to-two on an application to allow placement of an above ground swimming pool three and a half feet from the rear property line. The setback requirement is 15 feet, already half of the requirement for most of Lytle, City Administrator Zachary Meadows explained.
Property owner Linda Atwood said that the present 15-foot setback “would put the pool in our living room.” She explained that a deeper pool was needed for physical therapy. The requested variance had been recommended by the city planning and zoning commission.
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