Public hearing draws large turnout as Collin County examines proposed "Epic City" development

Collin County held a public hearing and lengthy public comment period on a proposed 402‑acre development promoted as “Epic City,” a planned community the ownership group has described in promotional materials as including about 1,000 homes, a K–12 school, a mosque, senior living and retail. County staff and representatives for the property told the court no plat or development application had been submitted to the county as of the meeting; developer representatives said they are still in due diligence and conducting studies.

County role and regulatory limits

County Administrator Eun Kim briefed the court on the county’s authority for development in unincorporated areas. Kim said the site — which spans unincorporated Collin and Hunt counties near Josephine — is outside city limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction and therefore subject to county subdivision and infrastructure regulations, not municipal zoning. Kim told the court the county can regulate plats, roads, drainage, floodplain compliance, on‑site sewage and inspection of construction; however, she emphasized that the county does not have municipal zoning power and “for residential lots the county cannot regulate the density of residential lots.” If a plat meets applicable state and county requirements and infrastructure is installed to county standards, Kim said final plat approval by commissioners is largely a ministerial act.

Developer representatives: no application yet

Representatives for the landowner and developer — David Califfer and Matt Lee of Westwood Professional Services and Aaron Ragsdale (public relations) — appeared and told the court they are in a due‑diligence phase. Califfer said the group has completed a water study, flood…