PORT NECHES — The recent sale of almost 6 acres of land earmarked for a residential addition in Port Neches has caught the attention of Port Neches-Groves Independent School District trustees.
The reason — the land, at the extension of Lee Avenue at Block Street behind Woodcrest Elementary School, includes an access area for buses. Trustees with the school district recently authorized Superintendent Rodney Cavness to take necessary action to preserve the access.
The city owned the land, which was recently sold to a local business owner, who plans to divide the acreage into 20 or so lots for homes.
Taylor Shelton, director of public works for the city of Port Neches, explained the city’s street ends where the asphalt ends and there was no official easement. But once the land is replatted it will include the easement and the road will go on.
The school district’s interest in the issue is more of a technicality and gives the district assurance they can still have the access for buses and deliveries.
Ultimately, the land will feature homes that will tie in to a nearby upscale addition.
“The addition will tie in to the Riverpark Addition,” Shelton said, adding he hasn’t seen the final plans.
The city is hoping to close on the sale of the land some time this month.
City leaders tried unsuccessfully in the past to sell the surplus land behind the school. Council approved a real estate listing agreement with Leslie Symmonds of Ace Real Estate earlier this year. A second piece of city owned land at the corner of Merriman Street and Ridgewood Drive was recently sold. That property is zoned for commercial.
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