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Voting 3-3 early this morning, Spotsylvania supervisors reject incentives sought by Spotsylvania Mall's owner, putting an end to Cafaro Co. plan to renovate, expand retail center. Date published: 3/9/2005
FREDTALK: Did the supervisors make the right decision? The proposed renovation and expansion of Spotsylvania Mall is dead. Dead as a rusted-out Studebaker. Also gone are plans for a connector road between State Route 3 and Harrison Road. A deadlocked Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors failed early this morning to approve a resolution pledging to reimburse the mall's owner, the Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co., for its construction costs. "It's dead, it's that simple," Cafaro Co. Executive Vice President J.J. Cafaro said moments after the 3-3 vote. "You asked what the next step is? I have no next step." Supervisors Bob Hagan, Hap Connors and Vince Onorato voted to approve as much as $17 million in grants by the county Industrial Development Authority to Cafaro over 20 years. Supervisors Gary Jackson, Chris Yakabouski and Emmitt Marshall voted against the incentives. Supervisor T.C. Waddy, who is ill, was unable to attend last night's meeting. Opponents of the plan, describing it as "corporate welfare," complained the proposed deal lacked the detail necessary to justify such a costly business incentive. "It would please me to see the mall renovated and expanded," Jackson told his colleagues shortly before their 1:30 a.m. vote. "I do not support this resolution and the unmitigated corporate welfare it represents. This resolution is bad public policy. I urge the [IDA] commissioners to reject it." Hagan tried to sway his colleagues by noting that the county wouldn't pay any incentives until after the nearly $100 million mall expansion was completed. "We are not, in fact, laying money out in front and placing a bet," he said. "We're only in the position where we would be sharing additional revenues to the county if additional monies are generated over and above the base year." Hagan was quiet as he prepared to leave after the board's meeting ended just before 2 a.m. today. "I'm disappointed," he said. "I can't think of anything else I could say that would be constructive." Connors delivered a veiled rebuke of those who voted no. "I have more than a dollar-store vision for the county," he said. "It's very disappointing. I hope we haven't lost a great opportunity forever." As proposed, the grants would have been based on the mall's sales-tax revenue, and were contingent on several factors.
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
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