COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has urged Collin County officials to deny land use applications for a proposed 402-acre housing development formerly known as EPIC City, now called The Meadow, citing ongoing state investigations.
The project, located about 40 miles northeast of Dallas near Josephine, has drawn scrutiny from state Republicans, who have raised concerns over claims the community would implement Sharia Law and create a “no-go” zone for non-Muslims. The developer, Community Capital Partners, has repeatedly denied these allegations.
Paxton, a McKinney resident, sent a letter to Collin County commissioners saying the county should reject any plat applications for the development while state lawsuits and investigations remain pending. He has previously filed multiple lawsuits, including one targeting the municipal utility district that approved an annexation request for the project, arguing it circumvents state oversight.
Eric Hudson, attorney for Community Capital Partners, accused Paxton of anti-Muslim bias, calling the actions “religious discrimination dressed up as land use enforcement.”
The county had already denied a plat application in January, citing incomplete documentation. Collin County Judge Chris Hill, who has voiced concerns about potential discrimination, said the project is unlawful and has campaigned on opposing it. Hill pointed to his Republican primary opponent’s attendance at an event connected to the development as a contrast in his stance; he defeated that opponent with about 78% of the vote.
The Meadow remains in the early planning stages, years away from construction, but legal and political battles continue to shape its future.