Under a proposal before the St. Paul City Council, Major League Soccer matches at the new Allianz Field would be exempt from the city’s official noise limits.

The proposal has kicked up some heated discussion among Midway residents on social media but drawn few formal comments to the city council, prompting council members Dai Thao and Russ Stark to ask that a final vote that had been scheduled for next week be delayed until at least Feb. 7.

A public hearing Wednesday on the proposed amendment to the city’s legislative code drew scant public reaction — a single email in opposition, as well as remarks from one testifier opposed to the idea.

“I’m going to be suffering noise pollution, as well as traffic pollution,” said Hamline-Midway resident Stephanie Digby, a die-hard opponent of the $200 million soccer stadium. “I’m being discriminated against.”

Hearing on blanket noise allowance for Major League Soccer stadium draws 1 letter and 1 testifier: "I'm going to be suffering noise pollution, as well as traffic pollution," says Stefanie Digby. pic.twitter.com/uKINDgSFOo — FredMelo, Reporter (@FrederickMelo) January 18, 2018

Instead of weighing in for or against the amendment, members of the Union Park District Council have asked city officials for more time to craft a formal response.

Allianz Field, which is under construction at Interstate 94 and Snelling Avenue, will open to fans in early 2019. It’s expected to host 17 regular-season Minnesota United games a year, most of them beginning at 7 on Saturday nights and lasting two hours.

OVERTIME EXEMPT, NOT FIREWORKS

Joe Spencer, a city planner, told the council on Wednesday that the amendment would exempt Major League Soccer and Minnesota United from having to appear before city officials for noise variances before each game.

The special allowance would exempt Minnesota United home games, league events and “anything that the city might sponsor,” such as a community soccer match, he said.

“They’re not going to have to come before this body for a variance or any other (extended) process,” Spencer said.

“It explicitly does not allow fireworks,” he added. “It does not allow any kind of musical performance.”

Concerts and fireworks would still have to come before the city council for noise variances.

Spencer said the design of Allianz Field is specifically intended to distribute noise rather than focus it, and most games won’t exceed the city’s 65-decibel daytime noise limit, anyway. The proposed amendment would most likely apply to overtime games that stretch past 10 p.m., when the city’s night rules kick in.

He said that despite some confusion in the community, the proposed amendment applies only to Allianz Field.

“This is not about CHS Field,” Spencer said. “This is purely for the Major League Soccer stadium.”

“We want to make sure we get the intended the use out of it,” he added.