COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on Tuesday sent a letter to the representatives of developers of a mosque-centered community proposed in an unincorporated part of Collin County, informing them that they didn’t have the permits necessary to begin construction on the project.
The East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) recently bought just over 400 acres of property north of Josephine near the intersections of County Roads 850 and 695 for the proposed development that includes more than 1,000 homes, a school, retail areas, parks and more centered around a mosque.
“The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has been made aware of advertisements, public statements, and videos made by the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) and Community Capital Partners announcing the construction of EPIC City. This letter is to inform you that you have no authority to construct the proposed project,” the letter from the TCEQ Tuesday read. “As EPIC appears to have acknowledged, EPIC City is required to obtain multiple authorizations and permits from TCEQ prior to any development or construction.”
TCEQ said in the letter signed by Executive Director Kelly Keel that it hadn’t received any applications or documents supporting the construction of EPIC City.
“This letter, therefore, serves as notice that any construction or development in furtherance of EPIC City without requisite TCEQ approval is in violation of state law and should be halted immediately. You must confirm within 7 days that you and/or any affiliates have not and will not engage in any construction or pre-construction activities in violation of state law,” the letter concluded.
The news comes after Collin County Commissioners held a crowded public hearing on the project despite not having a plan on which to vote and despite developers behind the project not having filed any paperwork or requested any permits.
Many commenters at the meeting spoke against the proposed development.
“It is totally incongruent with anything we can allow in the state of Texas,” one said.
A couple of speakers spoke in favor of it, arguing for a more “inclusive Texas” and against “singling out and fear mongering Muslim institutions.”
“I don’t think we’d be here today at this early stage if there were plans floating around for a master planned community with a place of worship that was Christian,” Erin Ragsdale, who represents EPIC City’s developers, told the commissioners.
After the meeting, Ragsdale said Community Capital Partners (CCP) “intends to follow all applicable rules, regulations and laws and intends to develop an inclusive community that all citizens can be proud of.”
After the hearing Monday, Community Capital Partners released the following statement to WFAA:
“Community Capital Partners (CCP) has been working with local and regional community leaders to discuss plans and receive input on a master-planned family-centric community in Collin County. We reached out to Collin County Judge Chris Hill on March 19 to request a meeting to provide a high-level overview of the project. He responded midday Friday, March 28, to say he had requested a public hearing and that CCP was invited to present.
CCP declined to present today because the project is still in the early planning phase, and no plans have been submitted to the county. Judge Hill requested staff make a presentation about the project. We look forward to seeing how we can work together in the future.
That said, please recognize that CCP intends to follow all applicable rules, regulations and laws and intends to develop an inclusive community that all citizens can be proud of.”
Collin County Judge Chris Hill said Monday the commissioners wouldn’t discuss the project further until any plans or requests were followed.
Before Monday’s hearing, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had opened an investigation into EPIC and Gov. Greg Abbott had ordered the Texas Rangers to start an investigation into the center.