The city’s Parks Commission approved the overall plan to renovate White Stadium but voted against issuing a demolition permit on Monday in a two-hour meeting that included abstentions by four of the seven commissioners. While the panelists unanimously approved the concept presented for $100 million in improvements to the stadium, they voted 1-2 (with four abstentions) not to accept the demolition plan and ask for more information.

Under the proposal, Boston Unity Soccer will invest $50 million to renovate half of the city-owned stadium, with Boston putting up an additional $50 million. Boston Unity will house a new professional women’s soccer team there, while the city will use the improved facilities for Boston Public Schools athletics and other community events.

City officials, while seemingly surprised by the demolition vote, said it wasn’t a setback for the project and they didn’t intend to do any takedowns until a lease agreement is signed with Boston Unity Soccer. They said they would likely start demolition in the fall, noting that there was plenty of time to have further discussion with the Parks Commission.

“Following recent approvals from the Landmarks Commission, the Boston Civic Design Commission, and the BPDA Board, the Parks Commission voted [Monday] to approve the conceptual design for the renovation of White Stadium,” read a statement from a city spokesperson. “Commissioners requested additional information prior to a vote approving demolition. The city will plan to schedule another meeting in the coming weeks to approve demolition.” 

Those in opposition to the White Stadium plan, including Karen Mauney-Brodek, director of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy (ENC), said the board’s votes showed how much it is listening to residents and has so many unanswered questions. The ENC and several residents, known as Franklin Park Defenders, are litigants in a lawsuit seeking to block the stadium plan.

“I think it was really important and I was really grateful that these volunteers on the Parks Commission asked good questions on this project that showed they have concerns about how this will affect park users and they have concerns over the lack of information,” she said.

“There are foreseeable significant impacts to the park users and those that live around the Park, but the scale of those impacts haven’t been studied,” Mauney-Brodek continued. “There is no finished transportation plan and no MEPA [state environmental] analysis. It doesn’t comply with the Franklin Park Action Plan, and there is outstanding litigation…The answers given at the meeting were unclear for the commissioners and other folks.”

There has been no follow up meeting scheduled yet for further discussion of the demolition plan with the Parks Commission.