The development would include 1,000 homes and a mosque. It would also have a K–12 faith-based school.
A Texas judge has issued a temporary block preventing a utility district meeting from furthering development of a proposed Muslim enclave, known as EPIC City or The Meadow.
The Collin County district judge granted Texas Attorney Ken Paxton’s bid for a temporary restraining order on March 19 against Double R Municipal Utility District No. 2A of Hunt and Collin counties.
The restraining order prevented the Municipal Utility District from taking any substantive action at a meeting scheduled for March 20. Actions barred include accepting or appointing new directors or taking up agenda items, unless they fall under extremely limited circumstances related to ongoing litigation.
“This [temporary restraining order] is a win for the rule of law. Allowing Double R [Municipal Utility District] to meet in this way would have only furthered its illegal scheme to support EPIC City,” Paxton said in a statement.
Municipal Utility Districts are political subdivisions of the state that provide utility services and infrastructure and are subject to state oversight.
The proposed city was originally named after the East Plano Islamic Center, or EPIC, which purchased the 402-acre site to build the “epicenter of Islam in America.” The development recently changed its name to The Meadow amid backlash from locals who voiced concerns over potential sharia law, discrimination against non-Muslims, or Islamic radicalization.
The development would include 1,000 homes and a mosque. It would also have a K–12 faith-based school, sports facilities, a community college, senior housing, an outreach center, and businesses.
Gov. Greg Abbott applauded the legal development in an X post on March 19.
“Today, a court stopped EPIC City’s latest attempt to organize a community,” Abbott said. “We will not rest in the mission to stop the spread of radical Islam.”
The temporary restraining order expires April 1, the day after a hearing at which Paxton is seeking a temporary injunction.
