By JACQI
LEYVA-HILL
Special to the PRESS
The Port Isabel City Commission moved forward with final action Sept. 10 designating 765.695 acres of Long Island as an industrial district, despite another round of opposition from Long Island Village residents who urged commissioners to stop the process.
The special meeting followed action taken Sept. 9. Resolution No. 09-09-2026-01 designated two tracts — one measuring 230.57 acres and another measuring 535.125 acres — collectively described by the city as Long Island and located within Port Isabel’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ, as an industrial district under Texas Local Government Code Section 42.044. Ordinance No. 711 ratified and confirmed the designation. The action did not annex the property into Port Isabel’s city limits.
During the voting process, members of the audience could be heard questioning whether a second had been made and whether sufficient “aye” votes had been voiced to move the measures forward. Despite the objections, the measures were announced as carried and the Commission proceeded with the action. Video of the vote can be viewed on The New Valley Voice Facebook and YouTube pages.
Following the meeting, Dr. Glenn R. Young, general manager of Long Island Village, told the PRESS that the Long Island Village Owner’s Association, Inc. has received no communication from Port Isabel regarding the city’s Sept. 9 and Sept. 10 actions.
“LIVOA also did not receive any notice of the city’s intentions to hold the special meetings,” Young said.
Young said the immediate impact on property owners remains uncertain.
“The immediate effect is unknown,” Young said.
He said he emailed Cameron County seeking information about permitting but had not received a response. According to Young, some owners fear the designation could negatively affect property values or create permitting difficulties. Those potential effects have not yet been established.
Young also pointed to residents’ lack of voting representation in Port Isabel. Because Long Island Village is outside Port Isabel’s city limits, its residents do not vote in Port Isabel municipal elections.
Young said LIVOA’s board is scheduled to meet Sept. 23 and expects the city’s actions to be discussed. He said the association is keeping its options open, including contacting state legislators and considering possible legal remedies.
During the Sept. 10 meeting, Commissioner Martin C. Cantu tied the situation to the ongoing short-term rental tax dispute while making a motion. Cantu told those in attendance that the city “wouldn’t be put in this predicament” if the payments had been kept current, referencing a six-year period.
The dispute also involves hotel occupancy taxes. Young said he is limited in what he can discuss because Port Isabel has filed a lawsuit against LIVOA, which he identified as Cause No. 2026-DCL-03290 in the 138th District Court.
Young said he addressed commissioners May 19 regarding the amount the city alleges is owed and disputed figures presented by the city attorney. He said he asked commissioners to begin negotiations over a reasonable figure and that LIVOA’s attorney later provided an opening figure through the city’s attorney.
Young also told commissioners Sept. 10 that attempts to communicate with Port Isabel officials on other matters had gone unanswered. He said he sought coordination regarding evacuations, disasters and other emergencies but did not receive a return call or email from the city’s emergency planning coordinator or fire captain. Young said he also stopped calling the mayor after six attempts without receiving a returned call.
Asked what LIVOA would seek if Port Isabel offered negotiations now, Young said its primary request would be release from the city’s ETJ.
“We would simply ask for release from the ETJ, in accordance with the law,” Young said.
“All other issues between LIV and Port Isabel are workable,” Young added.