Push Against Muslim‑Oriented Development Sparks Sharp Responses Across Collin County
EPIC reaction as local officials, developers, and advocates push back against Texas Attorney General Paxton's efforts to block The Meadow project.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s renewed effort to halt development of the proposed Muslim‑oriented community formerly known as EPIC City — now rebranded as The Meadow — is drawing swift and pointed reactions from county officials, the project’s developers, and community voices.
Paxton recently sent a letter urging Collin County commissioners to deny any land‑use or plat applications tied to the 402‑acre development planned for unincorporated Collin and Hunt counties. While the county had already rejected an application months earlier, the Attorney General’s renewed pressure has reignited debate over the project's intent and implications, KERA News reports.
The developer, Community Capital Partners, continues to face accusations from prominent state Republicans who claim the development aims to impose Sharia law and create a “no‑go zone” for non‑Muslims — allegations the company has repeatedly dismissed as baseless. The project remains in the early planning stages and is years from breaking ground.
In his letter, Paxton cited ongoing investigations and pending litigation — including his most recent lawsuit against the municipal utility district that approved the developer’s annexation request. He argued that joining an existing MUD circumvents state oversight.
Developer attorney Eric Hudson responded forcefully, saying Paxton’s legal offensive amounts to anti‑Muslim discrimination disguised as land‑use enforcement. “That looks a lot like religious discrimination dressed up as land use enforcement,” he said, adding that the Constitution forbids government actions that favor or penalize groups based on faith.
Collin County officials, meanwhile, appear split in tone if not in action. County Judge Chris Hill defended the county’s earlier denial of the plat application, arguing it lacked required documentation. But developers say Hill’s public messaging — including posts highlighting the project by name — is unusual and politically motivated.
Eric Hudson, an attorney for the developer, Community Capital Partners, accused Paxton of anti-Muslim bias when he filed the lawsuit against the MUD.
“That looks a lot like religious discrimination dressed up as land use enforcement,” Hudson said. “The Constitution doesn’t allow government to pick winners and losers based on faith.”
As Paxton continues signaling the possibility of more legal action, both supporters and critics of The Meadow are watching to see whether the dispute remains primarily political — or grows into a broader test of religious freedom, local governance, and state authority over land‑use decisions, said KERA News.