Madelyn Awalt believed she had discovered an ideal residence for her family in Princeton, a small town located 10 miles east of McKinney.
However, issues began on the day the family moved into their new $285,000 home almost four years ago. The dishwasher would stop during a cycle, and appliances would cause the circuit breaker to trip. Awalt eventually installed a new electrical panel and rewired the house.
Afterward, mold developed, so severe that she and her family had to reside in an extended-stay hotel during the summer, waiting three months for their house to be remediated.
The struggle faced by Awalt’s family is not unique.
The Awalts are part of dozens of residents who are raising concerns about construction and drainage issues in both new homes and older properties due to recent developments. The developer of her home has not responded to a request for a statement.
With the moratorium on new construction set to end at the end of November, Princeton is working quickly to finish evaluations of infrastructure requirements and strengthen oversight of development.
They’re attempting to sell you a part of the American Dream,” Awalt stated. “You’d expect that you aren’t purchasing a home that won’t endure or one that will be full of issues.
Princeton gained national attention in May when the U.S. Census Bureau designated it as the country’s fastest-growing city, increasing its population by 30% within a single year. The city had slightly fewer than 7,000 inhabitants in 2010. Now, it exceeds 46,000, as per city projections.
The city has surpassed its anticipated population growth by several decades. Princeton’s most recent comprehensive plan predicted that the city would have 40,000 residents by 2050. The city is now revising this plan, which was implemented six years ago.
City officials linked the rapid expansion to Princeton’s more affordable housing options. In July, the city’s median home sale price was just under $300,000, whereas the average for all of Collin County was $490,000.
As major cities in Collin County approach their development limits, developers and homebuyers are increasingly looking toward smaller, rapidly expanding cities such as Princeton, which provide more cost-effective choices, according to local real estate agent Shelyna Tinglin.
However, the expansion has also raised concerns among city officials.
The city first implement a temporary haltlast September, city officials stated, in relation to new residential developments, they wanted to evaluate their infrastructure and public safety requirements.
This freeze on development has been extended twice but is scheduled to end on November 30, as a new state law mandates a two-year waiting period before another moratorium can be imposed.
“Basic infrastructure was the main factor behind the decision and the necessity to implement the moratorium,” said Princeton City Council member Terrance Johnson. The city’s water and road systems, along with public safety resources, all require improvement, he added.
Johnson stated that commercial expansion, particularly grocery stores and retail outlets — which were not affected by the moratorium — plays a crucial role in maintaining balance with Princeton’s growth. Locals must go beyond the city limits to obtain basic needs, contributing to increased traffic in the region.
Since the moratorium was implemented, Princeton has started evaluating and preparing for new water and road infrastructure, such as a 3 million-gallon elevated storage tank, and has approved the hiring of more police personnel, as stated in a presentation during the June 23 city council meeting.
City officials will also vote this month on a $153 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which features $70.4 million allocated for infrastructure upgrades across the city, along with a 35% and 10% rise in funding for the fire and police departments, respectively.
Princeton City Council member Cristina Todd has been leading the revision of city rules regarding development guidelines and processes.
She mentioned that she has also been urging the city to finish a stormwater evaluation due to concerns about insufficient drainage systems.
We transitioned from all this grass to concrete. The water is now flowing freely everywhere, which significantly affects drainage,” Todd explained. “Without a revised plan, that could lead to serious problems for us.
For long-time resident Kellie Daniel, the effects have already been severe.
Daniel’s house started to flood in 2016 following the construction of new residential areas near her home, which she attributes to redirecting stormwater onto her property.
Daniel mentioned that she has invested nearly $100,000 to install moats and drainage systems to prevent her house from getting wet, yet her home still floods during heavy rainfall.
When it rains, we are unable to use our bathrooms, drains, showers, or dishwashers,” Daniel stated. “This entire neighborhood is affected by the worst odor of sewage.
Numerous flood insurance claims she has filed might complicate Daniel’s ability to sell the home, she mentioned.
“We’re simply stuck,” she said.
Todd, a member of the council, references instances such as Awalt’s and Daniel’s as evidence that Princeton needs to take immediate action, prior to the November deadline, to enhance its standards and monitoring of new projects. Should the regulations not be revised before the city starts granting approvals for new developments, builders will not be obligated to follow any subsequent modifications, she mentioned.
Council member Johnson stated that he hopes residents remain hopeful but acknowledges that frustration is growing since much of the city’s planning efforts are not always apparent from the outside.
When questioned about what Princeton requires most after the moratorium ends, Johnson had an immediate response.
“Prayer,” he chuckled.
A staff writer named Lilly Kersh helped prepare this report.
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