Georgetown City Council voted 5-2 at its April 14 meeting to move forward with a plan that could close the West Majestic Oak Lane connection to Sun City when an alternative route opens.
Councilmembers Rachael Jonrowe and Keith Brainard were the dissenting votes.
The roadway connection opened in April 2014, and soon after residents in the Woodland Park area said traffic began to overwhelm the neighborhood street.
The plan approved by council would temporarily close the connection once Rocky Hollow Creek Drive is opened to traffic, which is anticipated by developers to be connected to CR 245 by the end of July, Georgetown Transportation Services Director Ed Polasek said.
West Majestic Oak Lane would remain closed for 60 to 90 days to allow traffic flows to adjust to the new route, and then the connection would be reopened, he said. At that time, traffic will be reanalyzed, he said.
Georgetown residents on both sides of the connection spoke at the meeting—with advocates for and against closing the roadway.
Many in favor of closing said they wanted the city to close the roadway before the Rocky Hollow Trail opens.
"We can't accept another summer of our kids being subjected to this traffic," Woodland Park Alliance President Brian Robinson said.
In September, Woodland Park residents began petitioning the city to close the street.
City Council agreed to close the street using barriers that would still allow emergency vehicles to use the connection without having to stop and move a barricade.
Jonrowe said she voted against the plan because she wants the connection closed now.
"One connection in the name of connectivity does not a true connection make," she said. "There is also a difference between an increase in traffic over time that happens little by little versus an overnight change, which is what happened in the Woodland Park neighborhood.
"I like the compromise. The only problem I have is that I think we need to put the barrier up as soon as possible especially in light of the kids getting out for summer soon. That is a time that is ripe for disaster."
