Residents oppose proposed Oncor substation on Legacy Dr. in Frisco

Some City Council members and P&Z commissioners have already voiced opposition to the proposed location, including Council Member Will Sowell.

“My main concern is zoning, because when you bought a house in that area you believed that location was zoned for commercial use, not utility,” Sowell said. “I don’t think it’s fair to do that to the homeowners.”

Although Oncor has looked at other locations for the substation, the location on Legacy is the most feasible, Taylor said.

Taylor said advantages of the location on Legacy are that it is directly adjacent to existing transmission lines, it is the closest site to the delivery points, it is out of a flood plain and the land is available.

Another location Oncor considered was south of the Brazos Electric substation on 4th Army Drive. However, because the area has underground utilities and is in a flood plain it would require more work and added costs to relocate the utilities.

Oncor spokesperson Kris Spears said the electric company has done a substantial amount of work to strike a balance between the obligation to offer a safe and reliable service while being cost-effective.

“There’s many factors we have to balance in situations like this when it comes to building new facilities or being able to service a large load area,” Spears said.

Former P&Z Chairman Bill Woodard, who took office as a City Council member July 1, said he believes the 4th Army Drive location is a better solution.

“I understand there are some engineering issues to work through, but I would like to work with Oncor to come to a solution that works for everyone,” Woodard said.

Oncor submitted the application for the SUP to the city March 14, Director of Development Services John Lettelleir said. City staff then began their investigative work.

If the P&Z commission turns down the SUP, Oncor could appeal to City Council.

If council turns down the SUP, Oncor could find another location and restart the SUP process. Oncor could also appeal to the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

“In order to maintain power quality and service to the Greater Frisco area, a new station will absolutely be required, and potentially more than one,” Taylor said.