As New Braunfels continues to grow, one of the main tools used by the city to guide roadway planning is its thoroughfare plan, which saw its first major update Dec. 8.

The plan acts as a way for the city to build roads more efficiently as growth occurs, said Garry Ford, New Braunfels director of transportation and capital improvements.

“[The thoroughfare plan] sets the framework of our city that provides connectivity for vehicles, but also connectivity for emergency access,” Ford said. “Then, as development comes in, they start providing right-of-way dedication for that network.”

Digging deeper: The thoroughfare plan is a part of the city’s comprehensive planning efforts and serves as a blueprint for how major roads and connections should function as the community expands, Ford said.

A locally-owned hair and beauty salon has closed its doors near downtown New Braunfels after serving customers for over 5 years.

What residents should know: The Lucky You Salon—locally owned by Ashlee Hill—announced an official closure on Jan. 3 at its downtown location at 453 S. Seguin Ave.

“The space was more than a location—it was a dream, a risk, a learning experience and a labor of love,” Hill said in a Facebook post about the closure.

The hair salon first opened on June 1 and was the former site of the Shop Shane & Co. Boutique, according to previous reporting from Community Impact.

The background: The Lucky You Salon offered clients personalized haircuts, styling and color, according to its website.

Currently, the local business will continue to operate with two local hair stylists through the end of January.

• 453 S. Seguin Ave., New Braunfels

A new U.S. Postal Service rule could impact when time-sensitive mail, such as tax forms and mail-in ballots, is considered officially sent.

The overview: Effective Dec. 24, mailed items are postmarked when the USPS processes them, rather than the date items are dropped in a mailbox. A postmark refers to the date and location stamped or printed on most mailed items, indicating when and where the USPS “accepted custody” of a mailpiece, per the federal agency.

Zooming in: According to the Texas comptroller’s office, the updated USPS guidance means items could be postmarked “several days” after they are dropped in a mailbox. This includes date-sensitive items sent by Texas residents and businesses, such as property tax payments, federal tax returns, mail-in ballots and required business reports.

To ensure that mail is postmarked on the day it is sent, customers can take mail into their local post office and request that the item be hand-stamped for free, according to the USPS. Texans can also pay property taxes and submit ballots in-person at county offices.