The Cornelius town board last night delayed a vote on a massive speculative development deal that requires public subsidy and the re-direction of state and federal transportation dollars in order to support it.

The 105 acres of the proposed Village at Lake Norman must be rezoned to start. Like their neighbors in Huntersville, town residents are questioning the wisdom of tax-increment financed development plans which increase the demand for services while diverting property tax revenue away from the towns’ General Fund.

But this big deal will not just fold up overnight. My guess the phone lines will light up pretty good in advance of today’s vote as the developers make their case out of public earshot.