Are Westfield/Costco Holding the Ped Path Hostage to Decision on S-2863?

Sources inform me that all parties have reached an "arms-length" agreement on the long-awaited pedestrian path along the southwest portion of the ring road in Westfield's Wheaton Mall. 

For reasons that are not entirely clear, the ped path has become a part of the Special Exception Application (S-2863) that Costco (with Westfield's support) filed in an effort to gain permission to build its proposed mega gas station.

Westfield was given some four million dollars of taxpayer money with virtually no requirements other than to attract Costco to the Mall and make a serious effort to satisfy the requests of nearby residents.  One of those requests was (and is) the creation of the ped path.

Given that all parties seem to have agreed on the details of the proposed path, why has construction not begun?  Is it to be delayed until a decision is reached on S-2863?  Various sources acknowledge that that decision might not be reached until some time in early 2014.  Surely there is no reason to delay construction of the ped path for another 6 months (or more?).

I urge all parties to work together so that the ped path can be completed no later than September 5 of this year - the construction job should be quite minimal.  If completed by that date, there could be a festive ribbon cutting.  Mr. Leggett could do the honors, along with various members of the County Council and representatives of Westfield and Costco.