A trial is scheduled for Nov. 16, 2026<\/p>\n
A North Texas municipal utility district connected to a controversial development project was ordered to halt operations after a judge issued a temporary injunction finding the state demonstrated a probable right to relief regarding whether the district\u2019s leadership met legal qualifications under Texas law.<\/p>\n
The temporary injunction<\/a> was granted on March 30 by Judge Christine A. Nowak of the 493rd Judicial District Court. A full trial in the case is scheduled for Nov. 16, 2026.<\/p>\n The project<\/a>\u00a0has faced heightened scrutiny since its announcement. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott previously criticized the development, referring to it as a \u201csharia city\u201d and calling for investigations into affiliated entities. Several lawsuits<\/a> related to the project were also filed in 2025.<\/p>\n Temporary Injunction Expands Earlier Court Action<\/p>\n The temporary injunction strengthens an earlier temporary restraining order issued March 19 ahead of a scheduled March 20 meeting of the district\u2019s acting board of directors. While the restraining order paused immediate decision-making, the temporary injunction imposes broader restrictions. It prohibits the individuals claiming to serve as directors from acting in any official capacity and orders Double R Municipal Utility District No. 2A of Hunt and Collin Counties (Double R MUD) to cease operations until legally qualified board members are appointed through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).<\/p>\n The court also declared actions taken under the authority of the unqualified directors on or after Sept. 12, 2025 \u2014 including service representations \u2014 null and void. The injunction states the measures are necessary to preserve the status quo while the case proceeds toward trial.<\/p>\n State Argues Board Was Improperly Appointed<\/p>\n Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit<\/a> against Double R MUD in February, alleging the individuals serving as directors failed to meet statutory qualifications required to hold office.<\/p>\n According to the state\u2019s lawsuit, several board members owned land tied to a proposed development that was not part of the utility district at the time of their appointments. The complaint argues those members later voted to annex the development into the district, effectively expanding its boundaries after taking office. Paxton\u2019s office maintained that this sequence violated Texas law and invalidated actions taken by the board.<\/p>\n \u201cMy office has proven that these radicals were unlawfully appointed to the board of Double R MUD and that their actions to advance the EPIC City development were illegal and void,\u201d said Attorney General Paxton in an official statement<\/a>. \u201cWe will continue to expose and stop anyone who attempts to exploit our governmental entities or Texas law to advance unlawful or dangerous agendas.\u201d<\/p>\n Utility District Tied To Planned Community<\/p>\n The dispute centers on a large mixed-use project now called The Meadow<\/a>, previously introduced as EPIC City. Led by Community Capital Partners, the proposed development includes plans<\/a> for housing, parks, schools, healthcare facilities, retail spaces, senior living and multiple houses of worship.<\/p>\n Municipal utility districts typically provide foundational infrastructure such as water and wastewater services for growing communities. Double R MUD had agreed to incorporate the development into its service area and provide those utilities \u2014 actions now invalidated under the temporary injunction.<\/p>\n Developers have described The Meadow as an open community intended for residents of diverse backgrounds. \u201cFrom the outset, the project has been open to anyone who chooses to live there and is being developed in full compliance with all local, state and federal laws,\u201d developers previously said.<\/p>\n What Comes Next<\/p>\n Under the temporary injunction, Double R MUD must remain inactive until the TCEQ appoints directors who meet statutory qualifications. Until then, the district cannot conduct official business or implement decisions.<\/p>\n The case will proceed to trial in November, when a court will determine whether the findings underlying the temporary injunction should become permanent and how the ruling may affect the future timeline of The Meadow development.<\/p>\n