There’s a special city council meeting to discuss the soccer stadium heading to Port St. Lucie Monday morning. It’s been a controversial topic and has the community now calling on the mayor to shut it down.
City leaders want to bring in a United Soccer League team. But recently, a petition to stop their soccer stadium is gaining traction.
As of Monday morning, the Change.org petition, has more than 1,500 people have signed on, saying the project should come to a halt.
The petition organizer stated that the local infrastructure cannot handle the increased traffic volume, emphasized the need for road improvements, and highlighted the community’s need for amenities for children and families.
Spokesperson for the city Scott Samples tells CBS12 the addition of this team is vital to a growing city, eventually bringing in restaurants, retail spaces, and hotels.
The stadium is set to cost the city over $27.5 million. Samples says people won’t see an increase in their taxes from the project, as the money will come from TIF — tax increment financing. The developer will initially fund the project, with reimbursement through Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) revenue, meaning no upfront taxpayer dollars.
City council called a special meeting for Monday morning at city hall in Port St. Lucie to talk about the mixed opinions around the soccer stadium.
Our Treasure Coast reporter Jack Wu will be at the meeting and will bring you more both on air and online as we learn more.