Real's fuzzy parking plan worries Sandy

Will $10 million from Sandy city for the Real soccer stadium depend on a comprehensive parking plan?

Sandy's Planning Commission hopes so. But the City Council will have ultimate say.

The commission discussed a parking plan for the major league soccer stadium for three and half hours Thursday night. They ended up giving unanimous final site plan approval for extended hours (midnight for outdoor events; 1 a.m. for indoor events) and the parking management plan, the latter with extra conditions.

Real now must continue bringing their parking plan to the commission regularly, and the commission recommended that $10 million from Sandy's Redevelopment Agency not be issued for Real until that plan is up to par.

Of concern: the stadium entrance and exit points, where stadium employees will park, how to get soccer fans safely to their cars, what enforcement is needed and how to prevent parking on residential streets.

Commissioners expressed concern with elements of Real's plan that have not been finalized and which carry labels such as "possible," "potential, "if needed" and "encouraged."

"Before the games start, they should have those answers. I'd love to develop under this," said Commissioner Darren Mansell. He was concerned that Real's plan said employees will be "encouraged" to ride mass transit and a shuttle route may be available so staff will not take up stadium parking stalls. "I don't want the answer to be 'We're going to continue to encourage."'

Real's engineering study shows that 5,300 total parking spaces will be needed to accommodate the portion of the anticipated 21,000 fans who drive to the stadium — the others are expected to use mass transit and carpooling. Under a state-approved plan that gave the team $35 million from hotel-tax revenues for land and parking at the site, Real must come up with 1,000 new parking stalls within a five-minute walking distance from the stadium. The majority of the other spots will be a five- to 15-minute walk from the stadium.

Sandy will have to amend its current code to allow for off-site parking at such far distances. An ordinance is in the works that adds an event section detailing parking requirements for temporary events, such as the soccer games.

Lon Lewis, who owns property across from the site, said the ratio of people to parking spots is too low and people will park on neighborhood streets.

"Are we being realistic thinking that area is going to be suitable for helping with parking at the site?" he said. "We hope these issues won't be skirted and the impact of the neighborhood won't be jeopardized."