Soccer approvals pending by council
by JoAnn Grbach
Plans to begin construction next month on the first phase of a 24-field soccer complex at South Germantown Recreational Park depend on two decisions by the County Council -- one of which may not happen until after the summer.
The Montgomery County Council must approve a lease agreement for the large-scale complex to be housed at the 655-acre park, located at Route 118 and Schaeffer Road. And the council must also approve a water/sewer category change from a rural designation to a public one before construction of the $19.8 million complex can start.
The Maryland Soccer Foundation, the nonprofit group formed to represent youth soccer interests, is hoping the council gives the items the nod soon so a timely groundbreaking can happen.
"We will be poised, with contract in hand, to begin construction on the soccerplex the 10th of July," said Jeff Griffin, project manager for the foundation.
Any decision beyond that could cause a delay in the fall 2000 opening of the complex.
Peggy Erickson, aide to Councilwoman Nancy Dacek (R-Dist. 2) of Darnestown who represents Germantown, said the council will likely not begin looking at the nearly 85-page lease until September. The council will take its summer recess the first week of August and does not anticipate giving an approval before then.
County planners are still working on the lease now and hope to have it approved for the council by early July, according to Migs Damiani, project manager with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
"... It's still being negotiated," Damiani said. "It's going to outline how the park is to be operated and maintained ... for the next 40 years. It will be looked at with the protection of the community."
But soccer proponents are optimistic about the council making a decision before it takes a break.
"We have not been told yet that it cannot be done," said Trisha Heffelfinger, spokeswoman for the foundation. "We're going to remain optimistic. I think both the commission and the council would like this to be done."
The soccer complex, which includes a championship field with seating for up to 3,200 people plus an indoor arena, was approved in March by the County Council. The council stipulated that non-soccer amenities would have to be constructed as well.
The Maryland Soccer Foundation has pledged to raise $11 million of the cost to build the complex.
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Staff Writer