Council Approves Amendment to the Oncor License Agreement for Redding Trail

In January 2020, staff presented an overview of Oncor's plans to replace transmission towers along a 1.3-mile line that spans Carrollton, Farmers Branch, and Addison. Within Addison, the transmission towers to be replaced are located in the Redding Trail and Redding Trail Dog Park corridor. Oncor owns the land upon which these Town facilities exist and use of the land by the Town is authorized through separate license agreements dated in 1985 and 2006.  

When Oncor initially approached the Town about the project, Oncor indicated it was their intent to bring the corridor closer to compliance with their current Hike, Bike and Trail Guidelines, established in 2014. The referenced guidelines are very different from what was allowed in the 1985 Redding Trail license agreement. The current guidelines do not allow ornamental trees, screening shrubs taller than 4', irrigation, seating areas (which include bike racks and drinking fountains), signage and pedestrian lighting. The 1985 license agreement also requires that vegetation be maintained in a manner to not exceed 15' in height and there are screening shrubs and ornamental trees within the corridor that exceed that height. 

Staff shared concerns with Oncor and worked out a compromise that will help protect assets in the corridor from construction impacts, allow exceptions to some of the site elements, and limit removal of vegetation. This compromise was presented to Council in January. Council requested that what was agreed upon be documented in a manner that both parties are clear on the direction and requested the license agreement be updated, where applicable, to reflect exceptions that are allowed. Council approved the revised license agreement at its July 14 meeting.

You can watch Council's Oncor license discussion here and review the presentation here.