McKinney council tables specific use permit for McDonald’s
🍔 McKinney City Council members voted to table consideration of a specific use permit for a new McDonald’s restaurant at the corner of South Hardin Boulevard and Virginia Parkway.
The item was tabled Sept. 2 after council members inquired about adding a curb along Virginia Parkway that would prevent drivers exiting the property from making a left turn onto the road. The action comes shortly after McKinney’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of the permit in August.
At a glance: The restaurant would be located at 3300 Virginia Parkway next to a Walmart Neighborhood Market. The property is currently zoned as a planned development district that requires a specific use permit to operate a drive-thru restaurant.
What they’re saying: Council members voted to table the item so the city’s traffic engineers have time to examine the possibility of adding a raised curb in the center of Virginia Parkway. The curb could prevent drivers exiting the property from turning left onto Virginia Parkway while allowing eastbound drivers to turn left into the property.
Comet Cleaners to offer dry-cleaning, laundry services at new north McKinney location
🥼 Comet Cleaners will soon open a new north McKinney location in the Shops at Painted Tree development.
The gist: It will be the fourth McKinney location for the dry-clean and laundry business, franchisee Raul de la Rosa confirmed. In addition to dry-cleaning services, the business will also offer wash and fold services, alterations and more.
Collin College board approves FY 2025-26 budget, 4% pay increase
Collin College staff can expect a 4% raise in fiscal year 2025-26.
The overview: The college’s board of trustees unanimously approved a budget of $437.44 million and increased base salaries by 4% during an Aug. 26 board meeting.
Diving in deeper: College officials completed a review of peer and local market salary data through the Texas Association of School Boards for the college’s pay system. This review included salaries for other community college systems, universities and the college’s school district partners, said Melissa Irby, Collin College’s chief financial officer.
FOODIE FRIDAY Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Dallas - Fort Worth area.
A new Texas-based seafood and Cajun restaurant is now serving customers after announcing its soft opening in August.
Te’jun Texas Cajun offers seafood combos and plates with shrimp, crab, crawfish, corn and potatoes, according to its website.
The Keller location also has the Snapper Classic, a new fish plate that serves a red snapper filet over rice with the restaurant’s Cajun cream sauce, according to a restaurant newsletter. Te’jun’s owners are also planning to add salads to the menu in the coming weeks, starting at $6.99.
🍜 Show Mini Hot Pot to serve Asian cuisine in Richardson (Read more)
🍦 Maya Creamery and Lounge offers ice cream, tea in Northlake (Read more)
🍓 Bondi Bowls to offer açai bowls, locally sourced coffee in Plano’s Legacy Hall (Read more)
Co-owners of Aromas on Oak, Ryan Buck and Kirsten Trudo-Buck wanted to create a cozy space where the community could sip coffee and relax, Buck said.
Signature drinks include the teddy bear latte, which has honey and cinnamon, and the tiramisu latte, which is topped with mascarpone cheese whipped cream and cocoa powder, he said.
The coffee comes from a renowned coffee roaster, Jodi Weiser, who also owns a coffee consulting business, Buck said.
Aromas’ baked goods, which includes croissants, bagels, muffins and pound cakes, are sourced from three different bakeries around Dallas-Fort Worth, he said.
Second special session ends without new laws on THC, property taxes
Around 1 a.m. Sept. 4, the Texas Legislature gaveled out of its second special session of the year. On the heels of a two-week Democratic walkout that stymied bills during a previous legislative overtime, lawmakers moved quickly to pass 16 of Gov. Greg Abbott’s 24 priorities in under three weeks.
The details: A long-debated plan to ban or restrict sales of hemp-derived THC and a measure aimed at reining in local property tax growth were among the proposals that did not make the cut. Those proposals fell apart in the final days of the special session, after House and Senate lawmakers were unable to reach agreements.
Also of note: Lawmakers also did not pass bills intended to improve emergency preparedness and communications in the wake of the deadly July 4-5 floods; shield certain law enforcement files from public disclosure; and bar local governments from hiring outside lobbyists.
The governor can call a special session at any time; however, legislative leaders indicated they did not expect to return to Austin to tackle the remaining agenda items.
