Council staff says Project Mave exclusivity covers two defined parcels, not citywide development

Council members at the Pensacola City Council agenda conference pressed staff for details about a proposed exclusivity agreement tied to “Project Mave.” The item drew specific questions from Councilman Louis Baer about whether the exclusivity would bar other projects citywide or be limited to defined parcels.

Lance Scott, director of the Port of Pensacola, said the agreement is limited to identified land parcels. "The exclusivity is specific to the land," Scott said, identifying what he described as "the Northeast quadrant, that undeveloped area, the 10 acres on the western side of that" and "the current Martin Marietta lot, which is just under 3 acres." Scott said the agreement would run for 12 months from assignment, "and during that period there are stipulations for Project Mave in terms of what they have to do," giving the prospective developer time to complete due diligence while the city would not seek alternative business-development deals on those parcels.

Scott added that if the developer decides not to proceed or circumstances change, the exclusivity would end. "What we're really doing is just giving them an assurance that while they spend their own capital money to ensure that they could go forward ... we would not seek an alternative business development deal," he said.

The council did not take a final vote on the exclusivity at the conference; the item remains on the regular meeting agenda for the formal council meeting. The discussion clarified the limited geographic scope of the proposed agreement and that additional approvals and conditions remain before any final development commitment.

The city agenda packet lists Project Mave exclusivity as part of the redevelopment advisory services and related agenda items; staff said additional contractual details and timelines would be provided with the regular meeting materials.