The Robert Kraft-owned, 25,000-seat New England Revolution (NE) soccer stadium in Everett has only a parking lot that accommodates 75 cars. The lack of on-site parking has been justified by the stadium’s commuter-oriented design, with stadium-goers expected to rely on public transportation. In a meeting with the Charlestown Neighborhood Council (CNC) on April 9, NE presented a parking plan that designated half of Charlestown as additional parking for the stadium.

“The impact will be hundreds or thousands of cars and people coming directly into Charlestown, creating worse traffic and noise, multiple times a week, ” said CNC member Philip Carr. “When an event is over, these people will be walking the streets, and there will be bumper-to-bumper traffic, all while families are trying to sleep in this residential neighborhood.”

In a resolution sponsored by Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata, the council urged the City to reject any proposal or modification that would direct stadium-related parking into the neighborhood.

“A conceptual plan that identifies half of Charlestown as a potential parking zone is fundamentally inconsistent with both the letter and the spirit of what the city has already negotiated,” Coletta Zapata said. “Charlestown residents have been clear since day one. Traffic and parking are among their most serious concerns, and they were told explicitly that this project would not rely on our neighborhood to absorb those impacts.”

Councilor Julia Mejia said that constituents pay attention to when and where the council decides to take a stand. Though she supported the resolution, she acknowledged that criticisms from the black and brown residents surrounding White Stadium have not received the same platform from the council.

“The mayor did a really great job at advocating for an amazing community benefit package for the residents of Charlestown. The residents of Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan, not so much,” she said.

Mayor Michelle Wu announced late last year that the city and Kraft Group had agreed on payments totaling $48 million over the next 15 years, infrastructural improvements to Sullivan Square, and private funding for all public safety and transportation management costs for stadium events. A portion of ticket revenue estimated at $2 million per year will fund Charlestown-specific municipal projects.

Councilor Ed Flynn, who also voiced his support for Coletta Zapata’s resolution, said he felt more time was spent on the Charlestown-Everett community package than on any quality of life, public safety, parking, or environmental issues surrounding White Stadium. “I’m supporting this proposal, I just wish we had the same commitment to communities of color in the Roxbury [and] Jamaica Plain area.”

Councilor Benjamin Webber disagreed that a different standard had been applied. He said White Stadium itself would be a benefit to the community by way of funds for Franklin Park and a BPS facility available to the public every day of the year, including game days.

“That is not the case in Everett. This is not a public facility. This is not going to be used by our high school students,” he said. “I don’t feel like it’s inconsistent to support this resolution and support White Stadium.”

Councilor Brian Worrell said the concerns coming out of Charlestown were valid, and they should not be expected to take on the burden of a private project in another city.

“There are clear expectations around transportation, mitigation, and enforcement. I commend the administration for securing those protections,” he said. “At the same time, I do want to be clear that there are still concerns about parking and traffic around White Stadium.”

He added that he supports the resolution but that the community surrounding White Stadium deserves the same level of clarity.

Coletta Zapata said she could see the parallels but called the comparison an oversimplification of the neighborhood’s respective contexts. “Another city said emphatically ‘yes’ to this. We did not ask for this,” she said.

In a statement, CNC said they are committed to advocating for the quality of life of Charlestown residents and appreciate Coletta Zapata for bringing the issue before the council.

The resolution passed the council with 12 votes in the affirmative.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with elected officials, the New England Revolution, and all stakeholders to ensure the interests and well-being of Charlestown residents are represented and addressed. Following the New England Revolution’s presentation to the CNC on April 7, we have requested a meeting with the Mayor’s Office, as well as the Boston Transportation and Planning Departments, to further discuss these concerns,” a representative said in a statement.