Towne Lake Garden Association

Getting rid of the gate?

Posted in: Towne Lake Garden
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  • cooprw
  • Respected Neighbor
  • San Antonio, TX
  • 71 Posts
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Since having the gate is what prevents the enforcement of traffic laws within the community. I think it would be safer for all the children and people walking their pets to get rid of the gate. Also, the money saved from maintaining the gate, cameras, and recording device/service could go toward that estimated $20,000.00 a year for pumping water into the lake. I know the savings won't be anywhere near that much, but it‘s a start.

What's more important, the safety of the residents or a stupid gate? All anyone has to do is wait for a resident to go by and then follow them in. The gate stays open for ever. A convoy can get in after the gate opens. Besides, I'd love to see the look on some residents' faces as the SAFE Officer is handing them a ticket.

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  • draston
  • Respected Neighbor
  • San Antonio, TX
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It's not just the gate. The streets themselves are owned by the HOA. You would have to get rid of the gate and somehow turn the streets over to the city to maintain. To issue a traffic ticket the offence must occur on a public roadway, ours are private roadways......

The gates are our first line of defense against the criminal element and I, for one, will move if we get rid of the gates. I attribute the gates to the reason why our crime rate is so low in this neighborhood.

Also, I would dare say the the gates also contribute to making the neighborhood more desirable and increases your home value when you go to sell.

Andrew

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  • cooprw
  • Respected Neighbor
  • San Antonio, TX
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 According to the september minutes, the SAFE Officer makes it seem as though it's the gate that is the obstacle to enforcing traffic laws within the community. Perhaps getting rid of the gate is what will allow law enforcement or the city to encorporate the communities streets and ultimately allow for ticketing. I'm just going by the september's meeting minutes, but I'm sure you're right. I still think it's worth exploring.
 Also, math not being my strong suit, if you factor in the number of homes we're not too far off par with other non-gated communities on a per capita basis with regard to incidents. I haven't crunched any numbers on all crime data, but statistics being what they are I'm sure an argument could be made either way.
 I'm of a mind to disagree on the gate making us safer. I think most folks know we're a private community, and that makes for a bolder neighborhood of "some" residents. I think the motorists so inclined to speed by children playing and people walking their pets on the street, not to mention all those other non-street legal machines some kids have been riding around on, is evidence of that. I think this gives some a false sense of security (poor choice of words) to think that they can get away with anything.
 Now, if all of a sudden residents start seeing people getting ticketed for traffic violations, this just might send a signal that we will start to have a police presence, and people just might start to watch their step, and that might go even further to making us safe. Still let's face it, every community will have it's criminal element.
 I do concede it was the gate that was one reason we decided to move here, but that evaporated the night it took the fire department what seemed like forever to get through the get when responding to a call at I forget who's house. I personally think there are more reasons to get rid of the gate than there are to keep it.
 Again, my main reason for getting rid of the gate is to help keep the kids playing, people walking their pets, and people out for a walk safer. I don't know how much value the gate adds to properties in todays market, but I'm sure you're right about that too.

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  • Faith62
  • Respected Neighbor
  • San Antonio, TX
  • 99 Posts
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I believe the gate (if working) keeps out 95% of the potential criminals.  The original developer had a great idea with this neighborhood, they did however cut many corners such as the lack of sidewalks, zero lot line homes & poor siding on homes.

The cost of water rights is still out.  We are  in the initial one year monitoring period.  Watering in all areas except at the front gate where the new flowers have been planted has been cut back to nil for the winter dormant period.

We are in a serious draught.

 

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