LUMBERTON — The Robeson County Board of Commissioners approved an incentive package as part of an upcoming expansion at Biggs Park Mall, while also approving a new County Retail Incentive Policy, during Monday’s regular monthly meeting at the Robeson County Administration Building in Lumberton.
The City of Lumberton previously approved an incentive package for the mall expansion. The county board agreed Monday to its own package, which will pay 50% of the economic incentives. This will take place as an interlocal agreement, with Lumberton fronting the cost of the incentives to the mall, which amounts to $213,000 per year, as the county will reimburse the city for 50% of that amount, County Attorney Rob Davis told The Robesonian.
The expansion at Biggs Park Mall will be an anticipated $17- to $19 million investment, as stated in the incentives agreement, obtained by The Robesonian, with “a number of” new tenants expected at the mall as part of the new development.
In addition, the board passed a County Retail Incentive Policy which puts into ordinance regulations for future economic development incentives for retail operations in the county. The policy, obtained by The Robesonian, states that to be eligible, the applicant must be a for-profit business located in the county which generates a minimum $15 million increase in tax revenue. A 10% equity will be required from applicants and only projects that produce a “substantial” number of new jobs will be considered.
Both the Biggs Park Mall incentives and the Retail Incentive Policy were passed 7-0, with Commissioner Lance Herndon absent, with no discussion in the meeting; the votes came following a closed session of approximately 30 minutes which included Lumberton city officials and project development personnel.
Edge elected board chair, Dial vice chair
In other news, the board chose Commissioner David Edge as its chairman for 2026 and Commissioner Faline Dial was elected vice chair.
“I’d like to thank everyone for allowing me to serve as chairman for a term,” Edge said. “And I want to thank the public for being here. I think back to when I first came on the board here, Noah Woods always opened up with the statement that this was the people’s house, and we want it to be the people’s house. So anyone that comes, we want you to be welcome and participate.”
The chairman presides over board meetings.
Edge represents District 6, which stretches from northern Lumberton to Saddletree and Rennert and surrounding areas, and has been on the board since 2010. Dial, a commissioner since 2018, represents District 4, an area of western Robeson County including the majority of Pembroke, western Red Springs, Prospect and Wakulla.
Hill recognized ahead of retirement
The board took a moment to recognize Deputy County Manager Shelton Hill, who will retire on Dec. 30 after nearly 20 years as a county employee.
“I think we need to tie him up and not let him get away,” County Manager Kellie Blue said. “He’s been an asset to administration, and many of you know him through his tenure, whether he was at (the Lumber River Council of Governments) or SEATS or (human resources) or up in the admin office, he is always that public servant, willing to serve and do what he does for the county that he so dearly loves. He’s decided he’s going to retire and go home and live a good life.”
Edge presented Hill with a plaque which read: “In grateful appreciation to Shelton Hill for his dedicated service to the people of Robeson County since July 1, 2006.”
“Life’s been good to me,” Hill said. “I’ve been able to work with some of the best people on the planet. It’ll be hard to forget you.”
Board denies request for family care home
A special use permit by Lorie Hammonds for the operation of a Level III family care home located on Canal Road just south of Pembroke was denied by the board due to concerns about multiple registered sex offenders living close by.
“We’re elected officials and part of our job is to look after those who can’t look after themselves,” Commissioner John Cummings said in making the motion. “And being that, placing a child within 90 feet of a group of sex offenders, I move to deny (the request).
A Level III family care home is a facility to house troubled youth. Sex offenders are not permitted to live within 1,000 feet of such a facility; however, they are not required to move if they already have an established residence and a new facility comes along near that location, Davis said.
There are six registered sex offenders living within a 1,000-foot radius of the property in question, including as close as 90 feet from the property, said Jackie Eason, Robeson County assistant director of community development.
The location in question was once a retirement home, but that business closed and the facility has sat dormant since.
In other business, the board approved a special use permit for a massage/spa parlor to be built at a location on Missouri Road, east of Maxton.
The board’s next meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Jan. 20.
Editor Chris Stiles can be reached at 910-416-5847 or by email at [email protected].
919-324-9407
Service Areas
