Horseshoe Bay council discusses Texan Mart fate
A judge in the Horseshoe Bay Municipal Court will decide in July whether the Texan Mart will be demolished, repaired or removed.
By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula
A convenience store and gas station in Horseshoe Bay has been deemed “substandard” because of at least 27 violations found during several building and fire inspections, according to discussions at the council meeting, Tuesday, May 19.
The Texan Mart, along the north side of FM 2147, has been a fixture in the city since the late 1970s or early 1980s, but now “it does not live up to the present standards” in Horseshoe Bay, said Eric Winter, development services manager.
After some discussion, the city council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution authorizing the city prosecutor, Eddie Arredondo, to petition the municipal court judge to issue an “order for repair/demolition/removal for the building,” according to the city’s petition.
The judge will decide the fate of the building after hearing from the city and the owner when the city files its petition July 8. “[The owner] is supposed to be there to provide information on what he’s intending to do and how long it will take,” Winter said.
The city launched several inspections on the structure after a complaint by a concerned customer.
The “most dangerous” aspect of the situation is that the roof truss in the structure was not designed to support the second-level apartment above the store, Winter explained.
Texan Mart had 18 violations under the city’s 2006 fire code and 9 violations under the International Fire Code, which had not been corrected as of May 7.
Many violations were related to lack of maintenance on the structure and improper wiring.
For the full story, see the Highlander, Tuesday, May 26
