A draft resolution is urging the Austin city manager to remove public parkland as a possible location for a Major League Soccer stadium and to continue engaging with the community to analyze other potential sites.
According to the draft, the council has seen a significant response from the community expressing concern for the Butler Shores Park location as a potential site for an MLS stadium. The draft quotes the following concerns:
- traffic challenges due to location on a narrow side street with limited access;
- addition of a stadium in close proximity to residences, nature, and Zilker Park add to an already existing heavy events schedule in an area that will further disrupt the perceived/actual peace and comfort of neighborhoods;
- “undue burden” on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail along Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake;
- displacement of longstanding (begun in 1950) youth sports activities at the ball fields;
- undoing of existing planning efforts for relocation of the Daugherty Arts Center to the Butler Shores location
"Our parkland is not the right location. I've said that from the very beginning," explained District 10 Council Member Alison Alter, one of three co-sponsors for the draft resolution.
The draft also states that an MLS team has publicly indicated a preference for two public parkland locations and a third preference for a site on McKalla Lane, which, according to the draft, appears to hold promise in terms of location and accessibility.
"How amazing would it be if that stadium could be an anchor over that in area, which does have access to the bars and the walking distance of other kinds of things, is in an area that's accessible with respect to traffic," Alter said.
Sponsored by council member Ann Kitchen and co-sponsored by members Leslie Pool, Jimmy Flannigan, and Alter, the draft resolution urges the city manager to remove Butler Shores and Guerrero Park as possible locations for the stadium.
While Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo was not involved with the draft resolution, she voiced her opposition to using city parkland for a stadium.
"The other concerns I've heard involve traffic, and the lack of parking in that area for the thousands of people who will be attending the games. And also the impact, the impact on those who are using the trail and other areas of the parkland," explained Tovo.
A spokesperson for Precourt Sports Ventures, the ownership for the Crew, was unable to speak with KVUE on Wednesday. In a statement, Precourt Sports Ventures President Dave Greeley wrote:
"Polling data tells us the vast majority of Austinites want a Major League Soccer team; we recognize some have reservations about locating a soccer park on parkland.
Since city staff developed the list of potential sites for a proposed Major League Soccer stadium at the direction of Council, Precourt Sports Ventures has researched the merits of each, including Butler Shores, Roy Guerrero Park and McKalla Place. As we have stated from the onset of this process, finding the right site for a stadium will be of the utmost importance as we contemplate bringing MLS to Austin. With that in mind, we have done comprehensive work on the Butler Shores site, including independent studies on traffic, parking, lights and sound, among others, and that will be complete in the next few weeks. We will share these critical findings with the community and City Council before the February 15 council meeting, so that Austin’s elected officials can make an informed decision.
Before any of the sites are removed from consideration, we hope council will allow us the opportunity to demonstrate potential parkland improvements and community impact and benefits for Butler Shores or any of the other potential sites, which could lead to the possibility of a public vote."
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