PEC’s Northwest Operations Center is currently under construction in Marble Falls, and the facility in Leander could be larger, said Julie Beggs, vice president of corporate services for the PEC.[/caption]The Pedernales Electric Cooperative is looking to build a new operations center in Leander that could bring more than 100 jobs to the area.
Representatives from PEC appeared before Leander City Council Aug. 4 to request a zoning change for 27.3 acres of land on the southwest corner of Toll 183A and Old FM 2243. The property is zoned as single-family rural and single-family suburban, and PEC is requesting a zoning change to a planned unit development with local office and heavy commercial zoning districts.
The plan includes a new operations center along the Toll 183A frontage road, and the back of the property would be used for the maintenance of PEC facilities, Assistant City Manager Tom Yantis said.
According to city documents, a typical PEC Operations Center includes a main office building, a warehouse building, a mechanic’s shop, covered parking for service trucks, outdoor storage areas for equipment and materials, and a renewable energy demonstration area.
“When in full operation, this center will provide approximately 100 to 150 new jobs at varying skill levels to include engineering, renewables, contact center, member services and operations personnel,” the documents read.
City documents say the location would serve the growing client base in the area, as well as provide a hub for the maintenance of PEC facilities.
“We’re very excited about the project and to have a stronger presence in Leander,” said Julie Beggs, vice president of corporate services for PEC.
City documents included a rendering of PEC’s northwest operations center that is currently under construction in Marble Falls. However, Beggs said the facility in Leander will probably be larger.
“We have quite a number of members in this area, and as you know it’s growing pretty rapidly, so we want to prepare for that and anticipate that,” she said.
City Council approved the plan on first reading of the zoning change and after a public hearing on the project. A second and final reading on the zoning change is slated to take place at an upcoming council meeting.
