From Deseret News archives:
Sandy tables allowing off-site parking at Real games
Because of unresolved issues with stadium parking, the council voted unanimously Tuesday night to table an ordinance that would allow off-site parking at temporary events, such as soccer games. It will vote again on that code amendment in 30 days, after a series of tours to various night-game parking spots.
But the parameters of Real's parking plan, which relies on the ordinance, is what City Council members were most concerned about.
"This could have the possibility of generating 20,000 people at one time. And we're saying we can get by on this with 1,000 parking spots on one site?" said Councilman Scott Cowdell, whose district includes the soccer stadium.
Cowdell said Real should add at least another 1,000 stalls and said the Major League Soccer team is turning to the city to solve its stadium parking problems.
Councilman Chris McCandless, however, said plenty of off-site parking stalls are available near the stadium site, on the northwest corner of 9400 South and State Street. "I do not want to see another 1,000 parking stalls simply because I don't want to see another sea of asphalt," he said.
Under a state-approved plan giving 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 of the stadium. The majority of the other spots would require a five- to 15-minute walk. Sandy must amend current code to allow for off-site parking at such distances.
Real's engineering study says that 5,300 total parking spaces would be needed to accommodate those who drive to the stadium, most car-pooling. The others are expected to use mass transit.
Earlier stadium discussions included a parking garage to house most game-goers. Real, however, is looking at a garage for the second phase of the stadium project, which includes a hotel, broadcast studio and other mixed-use developments.
At the urging of Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan, a parking committee has been formed. But as the Planning Commission and City Council discuss a parking and traffic management plan, issues continue to stack up.
The Planning Commission recommended the City Council approve the ordinance and also recommended the council hold off on giving Real $10 million of the city's redevelopment agency funds until a comprehensive parking plan is approved, meeting all conditions addressed by the commission.
