TYLER, Texas — A new Mexican food restaurant is coming to West Tyler, but not without some major pushback from neighbors.
James Simon's home is right behind where the restaurant will be.
“I feel with the late hour and liquor license, it would cause an increase in traffic and be a safety issue for children," he said.
The 40-acre stretch of green is on its way to becoming Rancho 701, a restaurant, bar and grill with outdoor volleyball courts.
Among Simon’s concerns is this liquor permit notice.
“We really don't need loud music, alcohol drinking till two in the morning out here. It's that disrupt the peace of the neighborhood," Simon said.
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) law requires the notice to be clearly displayed for the public to see.
Simons and his next-door neighbor, Lamar Hampton, say the sign was hidden behind a brick wall.
"At least come to the community," Hampton said. "Let them know what's happening, just don't pop it up and then put the sign behind the fence.”
The owner of Rancho 701, Rosalba Rojas Guzman, says she didn’t mean to upset neighbors with her plans, but rather wanted to do something positive for a community that she has lived in herself.
She also wanted to address the sign placement. She has since moved the sign that neighbors said was in an obscure location. It is now more visible facing the main road. She also wanted to address safety concerns.
She will be living on this property with her kids. She says she understands the concerns and doesn’t want to put anyone in a compromising position.