The mayor says this allows the city the time to formulate a plan to address concerns

Photo Courtesy of WFAA

PRINCETON, Texas — The City of Princeton has enacted a 180-day moratorium on new residential developments to address growing concerns over infrastructure and public safety. This marks the second consecutive moratorium issued by the city, which aims to use the pause to develop a long-term plan to manage rapid growth.

“We can take this time to create a plan that will guide us for the next 10 years,” said Mayor Eugene Escobar Jr. “We’re hitting the pause button on growth to give us a chance to strengthen public safety, repair roads, and ensure our infrastructure can handle the influx of new residents,” added City Manager Michael Mashburn.

Princeton was ranked as the third-fastest growing city in the U.S. in 2023, with about 1,000 new homes being added every quarter, according to the mayor.

Scott Norman, CEO of the Texas Association of Builders (TAB), expressed concern about the moratorium, calling it “the most drastic step a local government can take.” TAB, which represents thousands of builders and developers, fears the 180-day pause could lead to a full year of halted development in the city. “You could end up with a year where nothing gets done,” Norman warned.

The decision follows feedback from Princeton residents, who voiced concerns in a city survey about infrastructure and rapid growth. “The priority is fixing the roads and managing the pace of new people coming in,” Mashburn said.

Despite the pause, the city remains optimistic about improvements. Plans are in place to add seven new police officers before the end of the year, and road studies are set to begin soon. “Our goal is a four-minute response time for emergencies,” Mashburn emphasized, underscoring the importance of a robust public safety system.

Commercial developments are not affected by the moratorium, but the TAB plans to lobby lawmakers to require cities to justify such measures, especially during a housing shortage. “Housing is needed for these growing communities, and the market will respond,” Norman stated.

For Princeton, the temporary halt in residential development is seen as a “roadmap for the future,” designed to ensure that growth remains sustainable and responsible.