Woodcreek cut-through road to close

LaRocca Lane may be the smallest road in the city of Woodcreek, but it sure caused a stir during the last council meeting.

The road, which is only a few dozen feet long, has been gated off nearly continuously for the past 45 years. When opened, LaRocca Lane connects Augusta Drive at the back of Woodcreek to Jacob’s Well Road. Outside of a few years in the early 2000s, the road has only been opened during emergencies or, as during the last few months, during road construction.

The Woodcreek City Council debated the possibility of leaving the cutthrough road open permanently, or at least until a traffic study had been done, but nearby residents were not pleased.

“We are not focused on traffic flow, we are focused on the protection and safety of our citizens,” Jeff Rasco, who lives near LaRocca Lane said. “Our family and our neighbors consider (opening the gate) irresponsible. It’s the convenience of a few or the safety of us all.”

Those living nearby said that since the gate was opened a few months ago to help those impacted by the Brookhollow Drive construction, traffic increased dramatically down what was once a dead-end cul-de-sac. Complaints of speeding and safety were paramount.

The council discussed the possibility of leaving the gate open long enough for a traffic study to be done once the school year started.

“I view it as doing more research and putting more facts together for this council to make a decision,” Councilmember Judy Brizendine said.

But others on the council felt that the city needed to close the gates immediately.

“From the beginning of this construction project, that was said to be a temporary opening,” Councilmember Ray Don Tilley, who also lives near LaRocca Lane, said. “I’ve understood that to be the case and clearly everyone who has spoken here thinks that. We have an ordinance that says it’s closed unless there is an emergency… For us to undo an ordinance in one council meeting seems very hasty.”

After a short 2-2 stalemate, the council eventually voted 3-1 in favor of closing the gate on the road.

The council also asked city staff to look into the ownership of the property, as there were claims made that the road is actually owned by Quicksand Golf Course, and thus would not be a city street.