Dozens of residents used the council’s public-comment period on Nov. 10 to press Josephine officials to push Collin County to pause approvals for the EPIC/Double R Meadow development, raising detailed concerns about water, emergency response capacity, traffic safety and sanitation, and referencing a state investigation into developer-related entities.

Many speakers asked the council to seek a formal delay. Sue Silver, who identified herself as having experience in emergency preparedness, said the project “may house up to 6,000 new residents” and listed four public-safety red flags, including whether North Texas Municipal Water District and fire services would have adequate water pressure to extinguish fires and whether the site’s single entrance would hinder evacuations or emergency access (public comment, SEG 242–292). She urged “a resolution to hunt and Collin Commissioner Courts to delay development approval for 6 months to 1 year while impacts…are formally studied”.

Several speakers focused on traffic safety and the capacity of County Road 695, saying a single‑entrance design and shoulderless county roads could delay first responders. Jeff Hall called a conceptual plan showing only one entrance “severely negligent,” warning that: “response times will be significantly hindered”. Dave Scott, a retired police sergeant, urged a one‑year pause and said municipalities should benchmark staffing needs—citing an ICMA white paper he summarized as recommending about 2.5 officers per 1,000 population—to assess unmet police and deputy needs if multiple MUDs are approved.

Several public speakers also cited legal and investigative developments. Barbara Isaacs and others told council members they had seen reporting and referenced an Attorney General review of Community Capital Partners, the finance arm tied to EPIC; Isaacs urged waiting until any investigations conclude before moving forward with approvals. Multiple commenters referenced an “explanatory memorandum” that some speakers attributed to the Muslim Brotherhood and said shows a settlement strategy; speakers such as Ron Debner characterized that document as evidence of an organized plan and urged legal vigilance. Those allegations were disputed in tone and substance by other attendees and were not substantiated by action at the meeting.

Mayor Jason Turney repeatedly reminded the audience that the proposed development lies outside the city’s corporate limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and therefore is governed primarily by Collin County. “This is not in the city limits, not in our ETJ…we have no control, no authority over that development,” Turney said, urging residents to bring technical questions to the county commissioners’ court. He added that city staff and the mayor have been in contact with state officials, including the Attorney General’s office, and that while the city shares concerns it cannot unilaterally block county decisions.

What happens next: Council members did not take action on the development at the meeting. Multiple residents asked the council to pass a city resolution requesting a county pause; staff said they would continue coordinating with county and state officials and that citizens can pursue the county forum to press for moratoria or additional studies.

Selected quotes

• Vogue Oganyan: “Islam is not truly a religion of peace…Today, we’re talking about Islam” (public comment, SEG 145–152).

• Sue Silver: “I urge the council to assert its authority…to delay development approval for 6 months to 1 year while impacts such as these public safety ones…are formally studied”.

• Mayor Jason Turney: “This is not in the city limits…we have no control, no authority over that development”.