Plano residents shared their thoughts on the proposed Dallas Stars arena at a council meeting Nov. 9.<\/p>\n
The meeting was the first since voters rejected taxes for the arena during the Nov. 3<\/a> election.<\/p>\n In a nutshell<\/p>\n Of 17 speakers, 11 spoke in opposition to the Stars arena. Four Plano residents shared support for the arena, while two asked city council to carefully consider their options.<\/p>\n Karen Dubrow, a Plano resident and chair of the Stop the Stars Arena Political Action Committee<\/a>, said election results show the citizens of Plano reject using city funds for the arena.<\/p>\n “We reject siphoning dollars from successful businesses that are already in the zone to go to an arena instead of streets, parks, lights and our wonderful city staff,” she said. <\/p>\n Residents opposed to the arena also shared concerns about confusing ballot language, an increase in crime and environmental changes to the Willow Bend area if an arena were constructed.<\/p>\n Residents in support of the arena voiced their love of hockey and the appeal of the arena compared to other potential outcomes, like apartments or a data center. <\/p>\n “What I think is so exciting is what the president of the Stars said on The Ticket when this project first became public, which is that they view Plano as the new economic belly button of the metroplex,” resident Ian Driskell said.<\/p>\n The background<\/p>\n Plano City Council called the arena tax election in August, per previous<\/a> reporting. Approval would have provided the city the option to implement the following taxes to help fund the arena:<\/p>\n Up to 5% short-term motor vehicle rental tax<\/p>\n Short-term hotel occupancy tax up to 2% of room price<\/p>\n Up to $3 per vehicle event parking tax<\/p>\n Up to 10% of each ticket price as an admissions tax<\/p>\n Up to $5,000 per game on a member of a major league team that plays a professional sports game at the venue<\/p>\n The arena would be part of a $3 billion redevelopment effort at The Shops at Willow Bend<\/a>. <\/p>\n The city of Plano hosted open houses about the project in July. Eighty-four percent<\/a> of open house participants listed traffic as a concern for the proposed arena. <\/p>\n To address traffic concerns, the city started a study<\/a> with Fehr & Peers<\/a> to find ways to mitigate transportation related to Stars games. Some roadway changes under consideration include new left-turn lanes, a new driveway to lead into the development and a new traffic signal along Chapel Hill Boulevard.<\/p>\n Looking ahead<\/p>\n