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Ice skating, concerts, conferences and sporting events in a mega-sized Independence events center are a little more than a year away following a vote by the Independence Planning Commission Tuesday night.

Members sealed the deal but not without a lengthy discussion amid controversy before casting their votes of 4 to 2 in favor of the block-long arena proposed for eastern Independence.

The controversy and no votes stemmed from concerns about parking, increased traffic on already-congested thoroughfares and what some commissioners considered a few design flaws. The $60 million arena would sit near Interstates 70 and 470; it would be built and operated by Global Entertainment Development, an Arizona company. The Independence facility will be the eighth events center constructed by Global, which has built centers in the U.S. and Canada.

Commissioner Karen DeLuccie explained her no vote.

"I'm not in favor of this project," she said. "Traffic is really that lousy out there. I expect excellence, and I don't see it. I apologize for my harsh tone."

But Commissioner Myron Paris said he believes event-goers expect some delays, similar to those when attending games at Kauffman Stadium.

"I think the same thing is going to apply here," he said.

Other commissioners were pleased with the overall concept.

"It's a beautiful building," said Les Boatright. "Looking at it, I don't get the feel it's over a block long. I like what I see, and I'm going to support it."

Commissioner Lyn Westfall explained her no vote following the meeting.

"I don't think it's as functional as it could be," she said, referring to the main entrance facing I-70, but a majority of the parking being located on another side of the building. However, Westfall said she understands the increased visibility created by the main entrance facing I-70.

During the meeting, she and other commissioners also voiced concern about the appearance of a separate building to house the public ice skating rink.

"I'd like to see some additional design on the ice center," said Commissioner Jerry Kacheroski.

Global Entertainment Director Ivan Moore said the location is a great feature that should be played up.

"You have a great asset not every community has. ... 100,000 cars drive by that site everyday."

The community ice rink would be accessed from the arena and a 29,000-square-foot back of house that includes locker and dressing rooms for skaters and hockey players. The 27,600-square-foot community rink is connected to the back via hallway connections and would also include a regulation ice rink, locker rooms, skate rental, concession stands and office space. The 75,000-square-foot arena bowl is to include seating on both levels, luxury suites, office spaces and concourses with concession stands. The arena can be configured for ice hockey, where it will include 5,800 permanent and luxury box seats.

At 131,972 square feet, the building is to be constructed of medium red brick and buff tan finished concrete designed to match other buildings in the Eastland Center. Moore said the design is more traditional than some of Global's other event centers and was created, at the request of city officials, to match the historical-style buildings in downtown Independence.

City Council candidate Kathy Kocan took the microphone during the public comment section of the public hearing. She voiced concern about what she saw as a lack of adequate parking.

"It doesn't look like there's enough for capacity crowds," she said.

But Don Dethlefs, representing the architectural firm designing the center, said Global officials already had addressed commissioners' earlier concerns about parking by increasing the parking spaces from 1,800 to 2,135.

In addition, he said, a traffic study prepared by an independent firm was conducted based on worse-case scenarios, such as rush hour during the busiest shopping day of the year before Christmas. He said the study paints an unrealistic picture of traffic congestion in the area.

"I've never seen a traffic study do this," Dethlefs said. "This is virtually unheard of."

Several commissioners asked Moore if extra police officers and arena staff could help ease congestion by directing traffic during sold-out events. Moore assured the commissioners that's possible.

Kocan also expressed concern about a repeat of the situation involving a Global arena in Youngstown, Ohio, in which the arena was caught up in a dispute about funding between Global and city officials. The city didn't have enough money to cover the project's debt load.

"We'll be sitting on this for a long time to come," Kocan said. "I hate to see that happen in Independence."

Moore addressed the Youngstown question, indicating that city backed out of its financial obligations.

"It's certainly not the first time we've heard that question," he said. "The short story is we had an obligation and the city chose to do things to hinder those obligations."

The Independence arena is to be partially funded by a half-cent sales tax recently approved by property owners in the area.

Stores in Independence Commons, Independence Center, Crossroads, Hartman Heritage, Eastland Center and Bolger Square will charge the extra tax beginning April 1.

Robert Rennison of Independence was among a half-dozen area residents who attended the meeting to hear plans for the center.

The center might allow him to resurrect a former pastime as a hockey announcer. Rennison, who has seen a similar Global Entertainment arena in Loveland, Colo., said plans for this structure appear comparable and he's excited about the possibilities.

"I'm sure this will be great for the city of Independence," he said.