Representatives from the First Liberty Institute who are representing the Islamic Association of Collin County look on with fellow Farmersville residents as the city announces they have reached a settlement agreement for the cemetery.

After more than three years of meetings and conversations, the Islamic Association of Collin County (IACC) has received approval for a cemetery outside Farmersville.

In a unanimous vote, the city council allowed the IACC to move forward, a contract to the 2017 decision to deny the preliminary plat.

At the Thursday, Sept. 20 meeting, council approved a settlement agreement that approves the same preliminary plat that was denied last year based on “drainage concerns.”

The settlement also details that the city will approve the final plat within 21 days after submission as long as it meets all of the city’s requirements. IACC did not ask for any money to be reimbursed by the city, including their legal fees. The settlement agreement also includes a release of claims from the IACC against the city.

In August, the city resumed negotiations with the IACC, and the Department of Justice notified the city that the U.S. Attorney General’s Office had approved the filing of a lawsuit against the city under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

Mayor Randy Rice, who ran his election with a promise that the city would try to put this issue behind them, expressed relief after the settlement and preliminary plat was approved.

For more information regarding this story, see the Sept. 27 issue of The Farmersville Times. For video, see below.

By Wyndi Veigel • News Editor • [email protected]