A developer cannot promise that unrelated businesses will decided to open shop in their commercial development. They can (and did) market First Colony to a range of commercial enterprises. For years rumor has been that Olive Garden was going to open in First Colony. Someone I know contacted the corp HQ of Olive Garden recently with that question. The company has no plans of opening in St. Mary's.
My recollection is the bubble/pool was built as a trade off for relief on some other aspect of the development.