A California state court judge dismissed a lawsuit last month that would have halted the development of a stadium in Santa Clara for the San Francisco 49ers.
Specifically, Judge Mark Pierce ruled that the challenge to Measure J by Deborah Bress, an opponent of the stadium’s development, did not provide sufficient evidence that the language used on the June 8 ballot would have mislead voters.
Bress had argued that the ballot language would confuse voters and hide the true costs, which city taxpayers would be responsible for. While the court found that Bress had raised valid arguments, it concluded that she had not satisfied the legal burden necessary to alter the ballot language.
“I don’t think there is clear and convincing evidence it is false and misleading,” it wrote.
If approved, a $937 million stadium will be built that will seat 68,500. Based on the agreement between the 49ers and the city, the team would pay $823 million of the cost. The city would pay $79 million. Another $35 million would be raised by levying a tax on guests at eight hotels located in the city’s North Bayshore district.
If the measure is approved, team officials said they want to begin construction by 2012 and hope to complete the project for the 2014 NFL season.
Another lawsuit, this one filed by the Great America Amusement Park, is still pending. That lawsuit alleges that a separate, independent environmental review conducted by proponents of the stadium was inadequate.
