Council approves Performance Impact Arena development plan, but parking and traffic concerns persist

Delaware City Council approved a development plan for the AAA Blue Jackets’ Performance Impact Arena and an associated 6,000-seat outdoor amphitheater on about 13.45 acres at the Sawmill Parkway and U.S. Route 42 intersection, though multiple councilmembers raised concerns about parking and traffic for large events.

Planner Sandra Pereira told council the planning commission approved the conditional use for the project on May 7 and that staff recommended approval of the development plan. The conditional-use decision included conditions addressing sound, light, hours of operation and a revocation clause if conditions are not met. Pereira said the conditional use becomes null if the development plan is not approved.

The applicant presented a site plan showing a structure of roughly…