Overcoming Design & Easement Challenges for Mt. Sharp Airpark Subdivision

The Challenge

The Mt. Sharp Airpark Subdivision presented a unique set of challenges for LTSI and Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) as they worked to extend underground electric service to the development. This ranchette-style subdivision incorporated a private airstrip, which required careful consideration in the electrical design to ensure safety for future homeowners and guests using the airstrip.

Key Challenges Included:

Underground-to-Overhead Looping: PEC does not allow radial underground feeds, requiring a looped design that transitioned to overhead infrastructure.
Airstrip Constraints: The subdivision’s wide roadways were designed for both small aircraft and vehicles. This meant careful transformer pad placement to avoid interference with aircraft wingspans and maintain pilot visibility.
Easement Acquisition: Securing easements from a neighboring subdivision was essential for routing power effectively while complying with PEC guidelines.

The Solution

To address these challenges, LTSI implemented a proactive and flexible strategy:

Strategic Easement Negotiation: Worked closely with neighboring property owners to secure required easements and permissions. When easements weren’t obtainable, LTSI rerouted lines without compromising reliability.
Multi-Loop Design Options: Developed several fallback loop designs to ensure uninterrupted service despite routing obstacles.
Airstrip Safety Considerations: Incorporated aircraft operations into the placement of enclosures and transformer pads to maintain clear sightlines and safe spacing.

Key Benefits

Our comprehensive design, inspection, and project management approach allowed PEC to move forward efficiently, ensuring power availability for future homeowners while maintaining the integrity of the airpark subdivision.

Proactive Design Accelerated PEC’s Work: Completing our portion ahead of schedule gave PEC the opportunity to finalize their portion before home construction began, increasing buyer confidence in power availability.
Seamless Execution with Minimal PEC Involvement: PEC trusted LTSI’s expertise to handle the entire process, from easement acquisition to final inspection, significantly reducing their oversight burden.
Effective Cross-Team Collaboration: LTSI employees played key roles, offering inspection expertise, knowledge of PEC’s preferences, and dedication to ensure project success.

The Results

This project showcased LTSI’s ability to handle complex infrastructure projects with minimal client oversight while navigating unique design constraints and regulatory requirements.

Our team’s local expertise, adaptability, and willingness to go above and beyond enabled us to deliver a cost-effective and timely solution. By collaborating with PEC, neighboring property owners, and contractors, we ensured a seamless power extension that supported both the subdivision’s residential needs and its aviation-friendly design.

At LTSI, we don’t just extend power—we develop innovative, client-focused solutions that enable growth and success.