Coronavirus won’t delay vote on Panthers deal in Rock Hill. But watch it from home.
By economic development standards, it’s one of the more eventful York County Council agendas in recent memory. Yet the county doesn’t want any more people than have to, to attend it.
Council meets at 6 p.m. March 16 amid widespread closings, delays, postponements and cancellations due to COVID-19 coronavirus concern. The meeting in downtown York had planned votes and a presentation on the anticipated $2 billion Carolina Panthers headquarters project in Rock Hill and the incentive agreement. Also, a final vote on tax agreements for parking decks and public infrastructure in Rock Hill, and a public hearing on a new plan for the I-77 South corridor.
After recommendation from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to limit gatherings of 50 or more people, the county modified its agenda and asked interested citizens to watch online.
”The meeting will be open to the public,” reads a county release sent Monday. “However, due to public health and safety considerations, York County is discouraging public attendance of the meeting.”
The county will live stream the meeting at yorkcountygov.com and youtube.com.
The county took the public presentation on the Panthers deal, known as Project Avalanche, off the agenda. The planned votes on it will proceed. The county has to pass three votes each on two related items, one to set up a multi-county industrial park and the second to set terms on a fee agreement for it. Council already has passed first readings.
The county still intends to send out a media release following second reading votes March 16, with plan details.
Council will go ahead with the third and final vote Monday night on a tax increment financing deal in Rock Hill. The county, city and school district there would agree to let Rock Hill borrow money against future tax revenue to build parking decks and other infrastructure city leaders say is critical to ongoing downtown redevelopment.
A public hearing and second reading of the I-77 South corridor plan is postponed. That plan will steer development rules and regulation in much of the same area as the Panthers site.
