East Plano treatment plant upgrades reauthorized following delays
Improvements to Rowlett Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant are moving forward after Plano commissioners reauthorized a site plan for the facility.
The North Texas Municipal Water District requested reauthorization because construction on the plant’s improvement projects has been delayed due to issues with the bidding process.
What you need to know: At their Sept. 2 meeting, Plano Planning and Zoning commissioners authorized a two-year extension for the plant’s revised site plan, which was initially approved in 2023. NTMWD completed the first phase of improvements to the treatment plant in November 2021 to improve the plant’s peak flow capacity, and the upcoming phase aims to better manage and treat flow during weather events.
Quote of note:“One of the challenges with the project ... [is] we have to keep the plant operational at all times,” NTMWD Director of Engineering Mark Simon said. “[The plant] does treat 50% of the flow for Plano and roughly 25-30% of the flow from Richardson.”
Hummus Republic to offer Mediterranean cuisine near west Plano
Hummus Republic is coming soon to west Plano.
The details: The chain offers fast-casual Mediterranean bowls, wraps and salads, with sides of pita chips and falafel. Construction is estimated to wrap up in October, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Registration filing.
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.
