PRINCETON, Texas — A North Texas city is making a rare move in the face of growth across the region: Pausing approval of all new residential development projects.
The Princeton city council on Monday night passed a temporary moratorium on new residential housing to "allow city officials to thoroughly assess the City's infrastructure and public services," officials said in a statement.
The city cited "rapid expansion" in recent years that has stressed public services such as water, sewage, roads and emergency services.
The moratorium will last for at least 120 days, though it could be extended if necessary, according to city ordinance.
"The moratorium will provide the City with the necessary time to evaluate these systems and make improvements where needed," the statement said.
Princeton, located east of McKinney along U.S. 380 in Collin County, had a population of around 17,000 for the 2020 Census. But the latest Census estimates earlier this year placed Princeton's population at just over 28,000, one of the fastest-growing cities in the state.
"Our City's growth is a positive reflection of what makes Princeton a great place to live, but it also requires responsible management," Mayor Brianna Chacon said in a statement. "By pausing new development, we are ensuring that our infrastructure and public services can keep pace with the needs of our residents and businesses. Our goal is to protect the quality of life for our community, both now and in the future."
The city outlined some of the infrastructure data used to decide on the moratorium, including several public services that are at or near capacity, including water and wastewater facilities.
The city says it needs several major water storage tanks to improve its infrastructure. It also says it needs to hire 30 more police officers to deal with "unprecedented growth."
"This moratorium is an opportunity for us to take a step back and ensure that our city is equipped for the future," Princeton city manager Michael Mashburn said in the statement. "We want to grow responsibly, which means making sure that our roads, utilities, and emergency services can support new developments without compromising the needs of our current residents."
While certainly rare, the Princeton moratorium isn't unheard of: Just last November, the city of Heath in Rockwall County implemented a similar 120-day moratorium following months of water restrictions.
Heath officials said the moratorium was enacted to address water supply shortages caused mainly by irrigation during recent droughts and extreme heat.