Clarion-Ledger, Ridgeland developer reach settlement

The Clarion-Ledger and a Madison County developer have reached a settlement agreement in a public records battle involving Renaissance at Colony Park in Ridgeland.

Tuesday afternoon, Clarion-Ledger attorney Leonard Van Slyke and Mark Garriga, attorney for developer Andrew Mattiace, appeared before Hinds County Chancery Judge William Singletary and announced they had reached a "tentative settlement."

Mattiace is releasing all documents requested by The Clarion-Ledger. The two parties have agreed on what is considered proprietary and will not be published.

In August, The Clarion-Ledger filed a public records request for documents from the Mississippi Development Authority relating to the proposed Renaissance phase III and the Mississippi Tourism Incentive Program, a now-defunct state tax rebate.

Mattiace is the developer of Renaissance phases I and II as well as the proposed Renaissance III. Through the incentive program, Mattiace could earn a potential $29.6 million from the Renaissance III project, which includes the potential Costco development, located at 1000 Highland Colony Parkway.

Garriaga, on Mattiace's behalf, objected to the release of the full application and requested a protective order on the grounds that the documents contained trade secrets.

In September, Singletary granted the protective order.

The Clarion-Ledger objected to the order and took the position that the documents are public and should be released with the understanding that any proprietary information be redacted.

Executive Editor Sam R. Hall previously said the order "effectively sealed public documents relating to a proposed Renaissance expansion and the Mississippi Tourism Tax Incentive program through the Mississippi Development Authority."

In court Tuesday afternoon, Van Slyke and Garriaga said they had already signed the settlement terms.

Singletary said he was "glad reason prevailed."

In response to the settlement, Hall said, “I’m happy that we have come to an agreement on these public records. I think the legal wrangling was unnecessary. It certainly was costly. In the future, hopefully such requests will not require the same kind of efforts.”

He added, "As we’ve stated from the beginning, our only interest is to ensure that taxpayer money is being properly spent. We have no interest in releasing the details of private business dealings. The negotiations to get to this point were done in good faith by both sides, and the result is that both the public and the private business entities involved have been well served.”

Contact Sarah Fowler at sfowler@gannett.com or (601) 961-7303. Follow @FowlerSarah on Twitter.