WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas — A road in Williamson County’s Brushy Creek neighborhood is back open Monday after being closed for months because of a cave.
Back in February, the cave roof collapsed on a water line on Cambria Drive. Contractors filled the portion of the cave underneath the road but did not fill it under the three homes above the cave.
However, homeowners have not stopped fighting.
Eleven homeowners protested their home values Monday morning at the Williamson Central Appraisal District.
Tim Kelley lives across from the cave. He cited a sinkhole study from Florida to the Appraisal Review Board during his hearing.
"That study says it's very common for houses directly affected to get 40 percent off,” said Kelley. “So I thought I would ask for 35 percent off."
Kelley did not get a 35 percent reduction. The appraisal district gave him a 25 percent reduction on his market value.
The district said it gave the homes directly above the cave a 30 percent reduction to the improvement value. There is no recent sale information for the houses closest to the cavern.
"Until sale transactions take place, we don't really have an idea of what that kind of impact would be,” said Chris Connelly, deputy chief appraiser.
Kelley said he is overall happy with his assessment reduction because his taxes will be reduced.
"I didn't realistically think that they would agree to 35 or 40 percent,” said Kelley. “I was honestly even worried they wouldn't give me 25 percent off.”
Kelley's market value is now at $233,000.
According to Zillow.com, none of the homes above the cave are on the market.