Gluckstadt Board of Aldermen vote to rezone land for travel sports facility. What that means
The Gluckstadt Board of Aldermen voted unanimously Tuesday night to rezone land at the corner of U.S. 51 and Weisenberger Road to accommodate a proposed travel sports complex. This step comes after opposition from local residents concerned about potential increased traffic.
The travel sports facility, previously labeled as the “Gluckstadt Megadome,” is a $100 million project that has been in the works for months under 828 Sports Ventures. The 43-acre project includes plans for indoor and outdoor courts as well as a hotel and restaurant.
The official name of the facility, which is yet to be determined, according to developers, as the project remains in the planning stages.
On July 23, the Gluckstadt Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend the land be rezoned from R1, meaning residential to C2, meaning commercial. During that meeting, seven residents from nearby neighborhoods expressed concerns during a public hearing.
Read residents’ concerns: Gluckstadt commission rezones travel sports facility land, residents express concerns
Most of the residents who spoke against the rezoning supported the concept of a travel sports facility in Madison County. Many of the people who spoke said they have children who currently participate in travel sports or have participated in the past. However, the residents do not want the travel sports facility so close to their neighborhoods because of the increased traffic.
During a Gluckstadt Board of Aldermen meeting in January, 828 Sports Ventures CEO Larry Fortune said the complex would yield an estimated $50 million annual economic impact for Gluckstadt, according to third-party data analysis.
The design of the facility has changed significantly from original plans presented by Fortune in January. The three air domes illustrated in the first plans are no longer a part of the plan following previous concerns from nearby residents. The building plans have also been pushed back from the road to allow more space for landscaping. Another redesign moved the parking lot to the back of the facility so it would not be visible from nearby neighborhoods.
Read details on original plan: Gluckstadt to be home of $100 million sports tourism destination if project approved
Several Wildwood neighborhood residents attended Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen Meeting to make their continued opposition known. Tuesday’s meeting did not include a public hearing, but Wildwood Homeowners Association member Tammie McCullough addressed the board during the public comment section after voting concluded. McCullough said she and other residents will attend future public hearings related to the sports facility to voice continued concerns.
Now that the land is officially rezoned commercial, the next step for the travel sports facility is applying for a conditional use permit. This step often includes a public hearing so residents can speak in favor or against the project.
More details of the reworked building designs will be presented in a future Gluckstadt Board of Aldermen meeting.
Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@jackson.gannett.com
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