Panthers vs coronavirus: Should threat delay key headquarters hearing in York County?
It will be one of the most significant public hearings York County has scheduled in years — at a time the public can’t gather in any one place.
Should they proceed?
York County Council will meet April 20. On that agenda is Project Avalanche, the economic incentive deal related to the Carolina Panthers headquarters and practice site move from Charlotte to Rock Hill. A deal elected officials, economic leaders, tourism pros and others on this side of the state line lauded in recent months as transformative, perhaps the biggest development boon this area has seen.
The deal also brings concern for some because tax money tied to the incentive package wouldn’t come in traditional amounts for decades. There’s also been issues stated recently by some council members about the size of area to receive incentives.
Read details on the upcoming vote here
The public hearing and final vote on the incentive deal could come April 20.
It’s the second virtual meeting for council, hosted online due to the coronavirus and limits on public gatherings. Since a March 26 state of emergency declaration by council to allow the online meetings, a county zoning board and planning commission meeting were canceled. A council meeting was delayed a day and held virtually to discuss one item — a full county public health state of emergency. That meeting lasted about five minutes.
Now the county prepares for Project Avalanche.
Handling calls
Many public hearings come and go before council without comments. Some field just a few. Occasionally a large or contentious issue might spur a dozen or more people who show up to offer feedback. There isn’t recent precedent at the county level for something like Project Avalanche, but there is reason to believe feedback will come.
On April 14 Councilwoman Christi Cox posted information on the project and the upcoming hearing on her Facebook page. More the five dozen comments and 125 shares followed as of Friday morning, some in favor and some against the plan. Many of those posters pledged to share their opinion April 20.
“I believe the county will be able to handle the amount of people who want to comment online,” said Council Chairman Michael Johnson. “We will accept comments via phone and Zoom. We are going to do everything in our power to allow everyone to participate in the public hearing that wants to.”
Cox isn’t as certain.
“Not only is it unclear if the technology can handle it, but I also worry that folks may be unable to navigate the technology,” Cox said. “I have struggled with this online meeting software myself. How will we know if someone has chosen not to speak, or if they just couldn’t gain access?”
Trish Startup, county spokesperson, said the online format will allow up to 500 participants. Instructions on how to participate have been posted.
“The county is not accepting comments prior to the public hearing,” she said. “The county is using ZOOM for the virtual council meeting. Listed on the homepage of our website (yorkcountygov.com) are the instructions on how the public can attend and participate in the hearings via phone, computer or Zoom app.”
Beyond the virtual setup, there will be only minor modifications to how the meeting runs.
“The chairman will orchestrate the public hearing the same way as he does for every council meeting,” Startup said. “However, a moderator will assist with notifying attendees when it’s their turn to speak.”
While Johnson believes the county can handle public comment online, there’s a larger question.
“As for whether we should delay the public hearing that is totally different,” he said.
Whether to wait
Johnson said it’s the will of a full council, and he doesn’t see a majority choosing to delay the hearing. As for him, he’d like to hold it when the public can re-enter council chambers and address the body directly.
“This is the largest tax incentive in the history of York County — Rock Hill waiving 100%, Rock Hill School District waiving 75% and the county waiving 65% — and we should get as much public input as possible. I realize the importance of getting this done but I personally would prefer to err on the side of caution and allow the public to be more involved.”
Councilman Robert Winkler chairs the county planning and economic development committee. He’s a point person on a variety of incentive deals like, though much smaller than, Avalanche. Winkler says the online public hearing should happen.
“I have had some concern about doing the virtual hearings and council meetings in general, but we cannot just stop all county council business for the foreseeable future so we have to do the best we can,” Winkler said.
“We have no idea when social distancing or shelter in place orders will change or how they will end. It could be months before we would be allowed to have a large public hearing and as I stated we can’t just stop doing county business. Sometimes we have to make the tough decisions based on all the facts we have even when (the decision) may not be popular.”
Cox said she believes the scope of Avalanche must be considered.
“This is the biggest economic development deal ever considered by the county,” she said, “the incentives are significant, the development is potentially transformational and the documents are extremely complex. The details of the deal are still changing every day and a Zoom platform for a public hearing on this at the peak of a pandemic when people are ordered to stay home does not seem to be the best way to proceed.”
Cox said there has been more discussion in recent days of when stay-at-home restrictions may loosen. The county, she said, could wait a few weeks. Plus, she said, citizens have concerns now that may trump participation even for the Panthers project.
“Right now, people are worried about losing their jobs, paying their mortgages, educating their kids and staying healthy,” Cox said. “This is the wrong time to experiment with new technology on an issue of this significance to our community.”
The decision
In her Facebook post, Cox outlined much of the decision to be made.
The City of Rock Hill would forgo all its property tax revenue from the Panthers project for up to the next 30 years. The Rock Hill School District would do the same for three quarters of its revenue, and the county 65%. Money would be used for $225 million of infrastructure for the project.
Those taxing bodies would then receive funding from project growth after the incentive expires. The proposed deal notes a team investment in two phases, each at half a billion dollars. City economic leaders in recent months said the total buildout, with hotels and restaurants and a other constructions, could value out at $2 billion.
Another issue is the area considered. The Panthers recently bought both a 240-acre main site for the development off I-77, between its Cherry Road and Dave Lyle Boulevard exits, and the Waterford Golf Club. The main team site will be about 270 acres.
Cox posted council will consider an incentive plan that covers 1,150 acres. Much of it without defined plans for what will go there.
Commenters on Cox’s post vary from those who detest the project to those who support it. Some say existing businesses will have a disadvantage compared to whatever comes in under the incentive package.
One poster stated his property is included in the larger 1,150 acres and he wasn’t made aware of it. Another posted the deal could negatively impact his business, but still he supports it.
“I am part of a small business that will be negatively impacted because of property across the interstate that I own and will lose because of eminent domain,” posted Chip Latham. “But I still support this as I think it will be a huge boost for Rock Hill.”
With so varied opinion and so lasting an impact on the coming council decision, Cox said the meeting Monday isn’t the way to go.
“Council is considering incentives that, if approved, will be in place for decades,” she said. “The public deserves a full and fair opportunity to be heard, and I have real doubts that we can accomplish that through an online meeting.”
This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 1:37 PM with the headline "Panthers vs coronavirus: Should threat delay key headquarters hearing in York County?."
