Only one person cared enough to show up for a Wednesday planning commission meeting to express an opinion about the city’s first official move toward building an arena west of the Haymarket.

But what the opposition lacked in numbers, Roxanne Smith made up for with passion.

She urged the planning commission not to take the first step by blighting 403 acres city leaders hope will some day be home to an arena, hotel and convention center.

“I would beg you, please, please, please do not take this first step,” she told the commission. “This is a flood plain that we are proposing to go into.”

She said the area west of the Haymarket, mostly home to railroad tracks now, is a desirable location, but an arena would ruin the character of the historic Haymarket.

And she said taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill to deal with the flood plain and environmental issues — not to mention help finance the arena, hotel and convention center.

The money would be better spent on public safety and health programs the city has had to cut to balance its budget in recent years, Smith said.

She suggested the city look east, to where it’s already about half done with the $240 million Antelope Valley Project.

“Do not take this first step,” she urged.

However, that’s exactly what the planning commission did, without discussion and by a unanimous vote. Commissioner Dick Esseks explained the planning commission’s role was to decide whether or not the area was blighted, not whether the city should build an arena.

Dallas McGee, assistant director of the Urban Development Department, said the blight designation is the first of many steps toward redeveloping the area. The commission vote is a recommendation to the Lincoln City Council, which will be asked to declare the land blighted in about a month.

“There will be more public input, more public hearings,” McGee said.

State law requires that land be declared blighted by the local governing body in order for an urban renewal financing tool called tax increment financing to be used for projects. Urban Development Director David Landis explained that TIF diverts the increased taxes from a development toward public costs associated with the development, such as demolition or utilities.

“No one is excused from taxes,” he said.

However, the taxes are dedicated to the development rather than the typical taxing entities.

Arena supporters have scheduled a series of meetings with community groups and an open house for the public on Oct. 18 at the Pershing Center — which would be replaced by a new arena under their plan.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.