Development Update: It has been a very busy spring so far with lots of new development including the preliminary approval of the planned Buc-ee’s development.  We are very pleased with the progress and recent update provided by Buc-ee’s to the City regarding their commitment to this project. If you have not done so already, make sure you check out the most recent Melissa Development Quarterly Update Publication where you can review more of the last quarter’s (January - March 2017) development activity.  SH 5 Traffic Signal Update: Unfortunately with all the construction taking place on SH 121 and US 75, we have seen SH 5 through the center of town become a regular detour route for all traffic headed North.  The City is working diligently with TxDOT to get the light signals installed at Fannin Road and the Outer Loop on SH 5 as promised.  We do ask for your patience as we are awaiting an update from TxDOT on a timeframe for installation and will provide an update as soon as possible.  In the meantime we encourage everyone to plan their commute accordingly for expected delays and to be courteous and patient to those that are in the exact same situation as you. In the spirit of Earth Day which fell this past weekend, I wanted to share with you some of the ways the City of Melissa is working to be good stewards of the environment and promoting a sustainable community: Did you know that the large water feature in front of City Hall is also used to irrigate Zadow Park and the grounds surrounding City Hall? This reclamation pond gathers rain water and other runoff, allowing the City to recycle water while maintaining a healthy landscape for our community to enjoy. The City is committed to implementing similar systems in future projects whenever feasible. On the subject of water conservation, Melissa partnered with NTMWD to install our own weather station that is also part of the Texas A&M AgriLife WaterMyYard.org network. With this resource you can sign-up to be notified by text or email telling you when and just how much to water based on this local weather data, helping us to conserve our water resources for the future. Green Ribbon Landscape Improvement Grant: TxDOT awarded the City with a grant to beautify the interchange along US Highway 75 and State Highway 121 by providing plants intended help with pollination, allowing bees and monarch butterflies to use the highway as a stop on their migration route.  If allowed it is our intention to also include a water cistern at the SH 121, Highway 75 interchange that would capture rain water to irrigate the plants. The plants would then filter water running off the roadway, ultimately cleaning the water as it flows into nearby streams and lakes. Open Space Preservation: This commitment can be seen in recent projects like the City Hall Plaza Park and inclusion of  Hike and Bike Trails in each of our new residential developments. A great example is the future 100 Acre Athletic Complex currently under construction off E. Melissa Road and Milrany Lane.  The first phase is planned for completion later this year and the Melissa ISD will be an additional beneficiary as they will utilize the new fields for High School sports.