Leander council approves microtrenching rules after debate over multiple providers and pavement protections

Leander City Council on June 5 approved an amendment to the city's zoning rules to permit microtrenching'a narrow-cut method of laying fiber optic cable'in public right of way, adding permit caps, a warranty requirement and limits intended to protect pavement.

The ordinance, amended during the meeting, will allow up to 10 concurrent microtrench permits per provider (staff will correct a draft typo that had said three), generally limit trenches to one per side of the roadway unless a mill-and-overlay is performed, require screening for aboveground equipment near residences, and require warranty coverage for microtrench restoration. Council also removed a blanket ban on perpendicular crossings of streets and limited such crossings to non-arterial roads.

The measure followed about an hour of public testimony from telecom companies and city staff. Bert Holmquist, representing AT&T, urged the council to permit multiple providers to microtrench the same roadway, saying competition'and faster, cheaper deployment'would follow if the ordinance allowed more than one trench per side. "Allowing multiple providers to work concurrently can accelerate the deployment of fiber networks, bringing high speed Internet to the community more quickly," Holmquist said.

John Michael Cortez, head of government and community affairs for G Fiber (G Fiber), told the council microtrenching has been used in Central Texas for years and generally reduces disruption compared with large bore work. "This method allows us to deploy quickly, safely, cleanly and minimally disruptive to both private property and public infrastructure," Cortez said, while adding that his company has limited experience with multiple microtrench lines in a single corridor.

Council members pressed carriers and staff on two recurring concerns: how multiple trenches would affect long-term pavement integrity and who would be responsible when later work damages an earlier-installed trench. Staff said the city would require a multi-year warranty (the ordinance as adopted requires a two-year warranty; staff and council discussed a three-year warranty option to address multiple trenches) and that, where damage cannot be assigned to a single contractor, liability could be split between providers.

City staff also said that microtrenching on streets without curb and gutter poses the greatest risk to pavement edges; for curbless streets staff recommended utilities use softscape placements or aerial/other methods. Council asked staff to provide examples and photos of successful multiple-trench installations before second reading; carriers said San Antonio has examples and offered to supply photos.

The motion to adopt the ordinance as amended passed unanimously. Council directed staff to fix the ordinance text (correct the permit-count typo, explicitly state a minimum and maximum trench depth range and clarify the arterial-crossing language) and to return the amended ordinance for second reading.

Why it matters: Microtrenching can reduce the cost and time to build fiber but also raises concerns about pavement durability and competition. The ordinance creates a measured local rule intended to allow fiber expansion while imposing protections and an explicit process for future amendments or site-specific approvals.

What's next: Staff will return a corrected ordinance for second reading, provide council with sample images and technical notes about curbless streets and mill-and-overlay approaches, and coordinate with providers on pilot sites and permit limits.