The County Council decided Thursday to allow planning to begin for a $15 million soccer complex in South Germantown Recreational Park. But the council will not allow the full complex to be built until other planned recreational uses for the park are developed.
The non-binding 7-0 vote means the council will consider a phased plan that ultimately could allow 24 soccer fields at the 658-acre park, located at Schaeffer Road and Route 118.
The council approved only 16 soccer fields for the first phase, which would include a championship field and indoor arena. No additional soccer fields will go forward until other planned amenities at the park, such as playgrounds and a swim center, are built.
The soccer complex is a public-private partnership between the county and Maryland SoccerPlex Foundation, which has pledged to raise $10 million, including more than $600,000 for planning.
The council takes its final vote on county budget items May 29.
The council only technically decided to approve $100,000 in planning money for soccer facilities and another $100,000 for non-soccer facilities, with the remaining funds to be approved next fiscal year.
Whether the council will approve the rest of the money will depend on whether the private sector will be able to fulfill its share of the funding. Future funding also will depend on the outcome of studies by the Montgomery County Parks Commission on the feasibility of the project. The county's share would be about $4.5 million.
At Thursday's session, council members were concerned about the wording of the proposal, particularly about when the non-soccer portions of the South Germantown park would move forward.
Councilman Derick Berlage (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring called it "approval with a tight leash."
The council also expressed concerns about traffic and financing, and acknowledged the worry of nearby residents, but said the complex was something that county residents wanted.
"We support soccer, and we support the complex," said Councilwoman Nancy Dacek (R-Dist. 2) of Darnestown, who represents the Germantown area. "But I still have concerns about the costs. I still have questions about the SoccerPlex folks' ability to raise $10 million."
The idea of building the complex in phases was approved earlier this month by the Parks Commission and a County Council committee, subject to further study on whether 24 fields can be constructed on the site, which already has been tabbed for other recreational uses.
It also has not been determined whether that many fields and the additional construction will be permitted under environmental guidelines. The precise phasing of the plan has not been determined.
The second and the third phases were proposed to be in 2002 and 2004, and each would include four additional fields.
Thirteen fields plus various recreational uses were approved for the South Germantown Recreational Park in the park's master plan. Those amenities include an indoor tennis, soccer and swim center, plus playground, picnic area, miniature golf course and motocross bicycle track.
"I was pleased to see the soccer facilities will be held at bay until the community needs get some recognition," said Laura Creedon, a South Germantown resident who attended the meeting.
The proposed soccer fields and other recreational amenities would be situated on a 352-acre parcel at the park. About 234 acres of that is allowed for development. If it is determined that 24 soccer fields will fit and they are approved, they would take up 44 acres and require 1,800 parking spaces that would take up 12 additional acres.
"I think Phase One may be too big, and we may have to scale it back to build part of the community park," Betty Ann Krahnke (R-Dist. 1) of Chevy Chase said.
From the Gazette Papers