A Sports Illustrated-themed riverfront resort for the City of Tuscaloosa cleared a key hurdle this week.

The Tuscaloosa City Council voted 5-2 to direct the city attorney to craft an ordinance clearing the way for the resort.

The council will hold another vote on that ordinance this month.

Councilwoman Raevan Howard and Councilman Norman Crow voted against the plan.

The resort, announced in 2023, was announced as part of a network of sports-themed resort and lifestyle complexes in popular college towns near universities with devoted fan bases.

A larger scale design which came before the city last year drew objections from residents who were concerned about increasing traffic on Rice Mine Road, among other concerns.

The new design removes a 137-room hotel and shelves four towers of condos and timeshare units, as well as another building.

The resort would now have buildings no taller than six stories, and about 12,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space.

In all, the new plan would have 161 total units. It would create about 1,100 construction jobs and 120 permanent jobs, according to developers, who did not seek any incentive package from the city.

Councilman Norman Crow said he was voting no because he believed a better plan could be developed with more time and input.

“In three community meetings, the public’s concerns were presented to the developer, and I believe the development today is better because of public input from constituents and the cooperation of the developer,” Crow said.

Several residents spoke in opposition to the resort. Comments ranged from residents who felt it would change the character of the area and that it would bring too much traffic. Others said it would provide little to no benefits to residents.

“We’re setting a precedent for structures that decrease the beauty of our riverfront,” said Debra Weiss, a resident who spoke at the meeting. “We risk damage to the watershed, the river from pollution for taxing our streams.”

The development team said concerns that the resort might lead to a casino were unfounded.

“We have no plans for a casino,” said Jeff Richards of SI Hospitality. “We are planning a family operation.”

Other concerns were that developers would build the project only to sell it to another entity. Richards also said the company has developed 220 resorts in North America, and they have sold none of them.