The mayor says this allows the city the time to formulate a plan to address concerns related to that growth.
PRINCETON, Texas — The City of Princeton has implemented a 180-day moratorium on new residential projects to address critical infrastructure and public safety concerns.
This is the second consecutive moratorium issued by the city. The mayor tells WFAA this allows the city the time to formulate a plan to address concerns related to that growth.
“We can take this plan, and this will last us for the next 10 years,” said Mayor Eugene Escobar Jr.. “Pause the growth for a bit…allow us to catch our breath in terms of beefing up public safety, fixing the roads, make sure the infrastructure can support new residents,” said city manager Michael Mashburn.
Princeton was rated the third-fastest growing city in the U.S. in 2023. The mayor tells WFAA the city is adding about 1,000 new homes every quarter.
“It’s the most drastic step a local government can take,” said Scott Norman, CEO of the Texas Association of Builders (TAB). He expressed concern over the decision. TAB represents thousands of builders, remodelers, and developers, and Norman warned that the 180-day pause might result in a full year of inactivity in the city. “You are approaching a year where you can do nothing in that jurisdiction,” he said.
The city’s decision stems from feedback gathered from residents. Mashburn says their focus is on the concerns residents brought up in a survey: “fixing the roads and too many people too quickly,” said Mashburn.
The mayor is optimistic that the pause will lead to significant improvements. The city is set to bring seven new police officers online before the end of the year and road studies are scheduled for the near future.
“Four-minute response times would be ideal for us,” Mashburn said, stressing the need for a strong public safety infrastructure.
While the residential moratorium is in place, commercial developments are unaffected. The TAB plans to ask lawmakers to require cities to justify such decisions, especially during a housing crisis.
“Housing is needed for all of these people. The market is going to respond,” Norman stated.
Ultimately, Princeton views this pause as a “roadmap for the future,” ensuring the city grows sustainably and responsibly.
