News Update
Frisco updates residents at town hall meeting: Questions focused on construction, Exide plant closure
By Anthony Tosie, atosie@starlocalnews.com
The city of Frisco addressed residents' concerns at its town hall meeting Monday, commenting on topics such as city construction, Election Day polling and the Exide Technologies plant closure.
Residents focused most questions on construction in the city, such as the Stonebrook Parkway extension.
When asked about plans for expanding Eldorado Parkway, Frisco Mayor Maher Maso asked Paul Knippel, the city's director of engineering, to update residents on the project's progress.
"We have a project to widen Eldorado between Preston and Custer to six lanes. Construction is anticipated to begin in late November," Knippel responded. "It's funded and on its way."
Other questions regarding construction involved Frisco Square, with residents wondering how development would continue with the bankruptcy of the Behringer Harvard subsidiary that was developing the area.
"We're working with [Behringer Harvard] -- we feel like Frisco Square should be able to go forward as soon as a plan is accomplished," City Manager George Purefoy said. "We expect development to go on. I think it's much like some other real estate developments that have gone through some of the same trials and tribulations during the recession."
Maso added that there are some developments for the area in the pipeline, although the timeline for those projects to go forward would depend on court rulings.
The impending closure of the Exide Technologies plant was also a hot topic for residents, who expressed concerns about the potentially toxic land the lead-acid battery recycling plant could be leaving behind after it closes next month.
Purefoy said the city will do extensive testing of the land the plant resides on, but primarily after the plant itself has been dismantled.
"Initial testing has been done, but we won't do the final testing until all the buildings have been taken down and disposed of," he said. "...The dismantling is why we're doing any testing at the end, in case there is any additional contamination [from the buildings being torn down]."
Later in the meeting, Purefoy said the ground would be tested for cadmium in addition to lead. He didn't know whether or not the land would also be tested for arsenic.
The 180 acres of land the city is acquiring from Exide through the Frisco Economic Development Corporation and the Frisco Community Development Corporation is expected to cost less than $1 million to clean up, Purefoy said.
That land will be used to attract new businesses to Frisco, as Maher Maso said it will be prime real estate given its location in the city and access to major roadways.
The city also reminded residents to take part in Election Day, which will take place on Nov. 6.
Unlike Denton County voters, residents of Frisco who live in Collin County can vote at any Collin County polling location on Election Day. For early voting, residents in both portions of the city can vote at any precinct in their respective county.
For more information about Election Day, visit www.friscotexas.gov/elections.
Residents focused most questions on construction in the city, such as the Stonebrook Parkway extension.
When asked about plans for expanding Eldorado Parkway, Frisco Mayor Maher Maso asked Paul Knippel, the city's director of engineering, to update residents on the project's progress.
"We have a project to widen Eldorado between Preston and Custer to six lanes. Construction is anticipated to begin in late November," Knippel responded. "It's funded and on its way."
Other questions regarding construction involved Frisco Square, with residents wondering how development would continue with the bankruptcy of the Behringer Harvard subsidiary that was developing the area.
"We're working with [Behringer Harvard] -- we feel like Frisco Square should be able to go forward as soon as a plan is accomplished," City Manager George Purefoy said. "We expect development to go on. I think it's much like some other real estate developments that have gone through some of the same trials and tribulations during the recession."
Maso added that there are some developments for the area in the pipeline, although the timeline for those projects to go forward would depend on court rulings.
The impending closure of the Exide Technologies plant was also a hot topic for residents, who expressed concerns about the potentially toxic land the lead-acid battery recycling plant could be leaving behind after it closes next month.
Purefoy said the city will do extensive testing of the land the plant resides on, but primarily after the plant itself has been dismantled.
"Initial testing has been done, but we won't do the final testing until all the buildings have been taken down and disposed of," he said. "...The dismantling is why we're doing any testing at the end, in case there is any additional contamination [from the buildings being torn down]."
Later in the meeting, Purefoy said the ground would be tested for cadmium in addition to lead. He didn't know whether or not the land would also be tested for arsenic.
The 180 acres of land the city is acquiring from Exide through the Frisco Economic Development Corporation and the Frisco Community Development Corporation is expected to cost less than $1 million to clean up, Purefoy said.
That land will be used to attract new businesses to Frisco, as Maher Maso said it will be prime real estate given its location in the city and access to major roadways.
The city also reminded residents to take part in Election Day, which will take place on Nov. 6.
Unlike Denton County voters, residents of Frisco who live in Collin County can vote at any Collin County polling location on Election Day. For early voting, residents in both portions of the city can vote at any precinct in their respective county.
For more information about Election Day, visit www.friscotexas.gov/elections.
Copyright © 2013 - Star Local News