Bastrop bussinesses battle over property lines
Two businesses in Bastrop are feuding over property.
Lost Pines Toyota and the Best Western Bastrop Pines Inn both say they have a right to act in their best interest on their land, but the two businesses, which sit side by side, disagree over the way the other is acting.
Lost Pines Toyota moved in four years ago and sprawled out over 16 acres of land. The Best Western was already there and both business owners got along well, but when the Best Western management changed six months ago, things took a turn for the worse for everyone involved.
When General Manager Veena Tewena started working at the Best Western in Bastrop, she didn't like the way things were going in her front parking lot.
"They were driving recklessly and there's a blind spot and it's so close to our entrance that there could be an accident anytime. God forbid it would be in our parking lot," Tewena said.
Tewena sais employees with Toyota were using a driveway on the side of the Best Western and the trucks accessing it left dirt all over the driveway. So she decided to put up a chain blocking access to the property. That didn't sit well with the owner of Lost Pines Toyota.
"We use this area as a display area. We try to bring vehicles in and out on a regular basis. If a customer buys one of the vehicles in this particular area, this is our access, this is our way in get out," said Carlos Liriano who owns Lost Pines Toyota.
Toyota managers said part of the warranty deed for Best Western states that driveway must be accessible to Toyota and the decision to restrict access started a chain reaction neither business was prepared for.
"We wanted to get along, so we were in the process of explaining to them that the chain is not allowed, so we used it as an example. 'What if we parked the truck on this end?' And they said, 'Well go ahead and do it.' Well, once we did it they became very upset at the fact we blocked an entrance to their parking lot," said Liriano.
"Two days ago, it's been more than 48 hours that he decided he wanted to block one of our entrances. So he put the truck smack in the middle of our entrance," Tewena said
Liriano said the driveway where he parked his truck is part of his property and parking there doesn't break any laws.
"Our truck is there within our property and we actually contacted the fire chief of Bastrop and he came out and stated to us that the truck is within our rights. We are not in violation of any fire hazards fire lanes in any way," Liriano said.
But Veena said it's not just about what property belongs to who, It could be a matter of life and death.
"Because if there were to be any emergency situation where the fire department had to come in here, or any emergency vehicle had to come in here, there would only be one entrance left," Tewena said.
Both parties have contacted the City of Bastrop to help determine the law of the land. So far there has been no response.
"My hope is that the city will look at their ordinance and give a decision so we can move forward for tomorrow or years to come," Liriano said.
Best Western owners said if the city declares the chain is illegal they will gladly remove it. Toyota managers said the same about the location their vehicle is currently parked.