A planned North Texas development tied to a mosque and faith-based community is on hold after a judge stepped in to freeze key infrastructure projects.
A Collin County judge issued a temporary restraining order Thursday blocking actions by the Double R Municipal Utility District No. 2A, halting progress tied to a 400-acre project known as The Meadow. The Dallas Morning News reported that the ruling throws uncertainty over a large-scale residential development that was poised to rely on the district to finance and build basic infrastructure.
The legal challenge comes from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who alleges the district was improperly reshaped to support the project and bypass state oversight. According to the state, board members were replaced in a September meeting with individuals who did not meet legal qualifications, and those members then moved to annex land tied to the development.
That annexation is central to the dispute. Municipal utility districts are a cornerstone of Texas suburban growth, allowing developers to front infrastructure costs — from sewer to drainage — and recoup them through bond financing backed by future homeowners’ property taxes, according to the outlet. Without a functioning district, projects like The Meadow can struggle to pencil out.
The developer, Community Capital Partners, had planned to use the district to deliver sewer service for the site, about 40 miles northeast of Dallas. The project includes more than 1,000 homes alongside a mosque, K-12 school, senior housing, apartments, retail and community amenities.
But Paxton’s office argues the district’s expansion — roughly 400 acres — was unlawful, and is seeking to strip the land from its boundaries. The restraining order, issued just before a scheduled board meeting, according to the publication, prevents further action that could advance the project while the lawsuit plays out.
Community Capital Partners has pushed back, calling The Meadow a “lawful residential development” and accusing the state of discriminatory enforcement. The firm pointed to Paxton’s public references to the East Plano Islamic Center, arguing the legal action is not neutral.
The clash has drawn broader political attention. Gov. Greg Abbott has directed multiple state agencies to investigate the project and its affiliated entities, and construction hasn’t begun — and may not anytime soon, according to the outlet. A hearing later this month will determine whether the temporary halt becomes a longer-term injunction.
— Eric Weilbacher
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