City of Frisco resolution opposes transmission lines, process

The Frisco City Council at a Sept. 4 meeting signed a resolution opposing Brazos Electric Cooperative's proposed plans to run transmission lines along Main Street and Stonebrook Parkway.

City officials estimate Brazos Electric's lines would directly impact 19,700 current residents and 34,700 residents by the time Frisco is built out.

The resolution encouraged alternate proposals, including potential routes from the south, west and northwest, according to a letter from Ben Brezina, the assistant to the city manager.

According to the letter, the city is investigating the possibility of a transmission line and tap point through undeveloped property south of Stewart Creek, north of Frisco's city limits. The city said the route is on private land and undevelopable flood plain areas that will remain mostly hidden from the sightline of residents and be out of the right of way.

City staff said the route would impact only 155 current residents and nearly 4,000 when the city is built out. City staff, who are calling the route the "southern" route, said the route lies within the 2001 Lewisville Lake Master Plan Authorized Utility Corridor No. 36, which was established for co-location of utility lines.

The city has hired a consultant to develop possible route options from the west and northwest as well.

Brezina said at the Sept. 3 council meeting his initial research has led him to discover that burying the lines underground could cost as little as $4 million per mile or as much as $37 million per mile, with an average of about $11 million per mile.

City officials are also encouraging residents to reach out to state and federal representatives to support city staff's recommendation for alternate transmission line routes.