New Orleans, La.—Tulane University scored a touchdown of sorts at City Hall.
For years, Tulane's football team has faced opponents on the Superdome's turf. Now the university wants to bring the games home to the campus, and after months of controversy the City Council has voted to remove what Tulane has seen as a big obstacle to its plans to build a new on-campus football stadium.
In May, Councilwoman Susan Guidry got the majority of the council to push for an interim zoning district, also called an "IZD." That new district would have given the city more control over the stadium project.
"Susan, we thank you for giving the neighborhood a voice, otherwise we would not have heard anything and we would have been rolled over," said resident Dorthea Martin, who had concerns about how the stadium would affect the surrounding neighborhood.
The IZD never got off the ground. The City Planning Commission did not sanction the idea and Mayor Mitch Landrieu sided with Tulane officials against the interim zoning district.
"I firmly believe that the new stadium will be a wonderful asset for the entire community," said Tulane President Scott Cowen in addressing the council Thursday.
Tulane said delays which would result from the implementation of an interim zoning district could hurt the project in a number of ways, including financially. But some of the university's neighbors have complained that the stadium would impair their quality of life because of noise and traffic.
Guidry pulled back the IZD idea, urging the rest of the council to repeal the May motion. Still, Guidry said the council will keep tabs on the project.
"We are committed to remain committed to the neighborhood and the process," she stated.
Tulane held a series of public hearings to hear citizens' concerns.
"Tulane has made changes to its plans and has agreed to enter into an enforceable agreement that will codify our intentions regarding the construction, and operations of the stadium," stated Dr. Cowen.
"Of course the devil is always in the details," Guidry stated.
Tulane is also shaving off some of the height on the west side of the planned stadium, and seating will be reconfigured.
"We've also developed preliminary plans for parking, traffic, game day activities and the like," said Yvette Jones, executive vice president for university relations and development at Tulane.
Opponents remain worried about the impact the stadium could have on drainage in the area.
"Along the northern, Audubon Boulevard side of the Tulane track is undersized for the current runoff much less taking any additional runoff that the stadium would cause," said one resident.
Tulane hopes to have the stadium ready for the fall of 2014.
Artist's rendering of planned Tulane Stadium
