The Texas Workforce Commission agreed Tuesday to resolve all fair housing allegations against a North Texas mosque鈥檚 proposed multipurpose development, according to documents obtained by 四虎影院.
Community Capital Partners, the corporation behind the East Plano Islamic Center鈥檚 planned EPIC City in unincorporated Collin and Hunt counties, entered into a Conciliation Agreement with TWC, dismissing allegations that EPIC City will discriminate against non-Muslims in violation of the Texas Fair Housing Act.
The agreement states CCP leadership will participate in fair housing training, review marketing and sales materials to ensure they鈥檙e non-discriminatory, implement fair housing policies, only use criteria to vet applicants that is "objective, uniform and directly related to business" and submit reports and documents to TWC over the next five years.
CCP President Imran Chaudhary said in an emailed statement the organization was pleased TWC closed its review of EPIC City.
鈥淲e welcomed the opportunity to take a deep dive into the Fair Housing Act, and we have identified ways to make our master-planned community stronger and more diverse,鈥� Chaudhary said. 鈥淭ruly, it would be beneficial for everyone building a mixed-use project in Texas to have this review and guidance from TWC."
四虎影院 reached out to the Texas Workforce Commission and Gov. Greg Abbott鈥檚 office for comment and will update this story with any response.
EPIC City is a proposed community spanning more than 400 acres near the city of Josephine, about 40 miles northeast of Dallas. It would include a new mosque, more than 1,000 homes, a K-12 faith-based school and other features.
The development drew the ire of Abbott and other state officials earlier this year after news of EPIC City circulated social media. Abbott announced the investigation into EPIC in March, following a slew of other state investigations into EPIC City for alleged violations of consumer protection laws, funeral service laws and financial harm.
The U.S. Department of Justice closed a similar investigation into EPIC City for alleged religious discrimination in June. The Texas Rangers are also investigating EPIC for potential criminal activity 鈥� though Abbott hasn鈥檛 specified what that might be.
Abbott signed a law that took effect in June targeting the business and legal structure of EPIC City, calling it a 鈥淪haria compound鈥� that imposes religious segregation. CCP has said the law doesn鈥檛 affect its business structure and that it supports the legislation. EPIC says EPIC City wouldn鈥檛 exclude non-Muslims.
Toluwani Osibamowo is 四虎影院鈥檚 law and justice reporter. Got a tip? Email Toluwani at tosibamowo@kera.org.
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