ARLINGTON – Private property owners must now register with the city and pay to get a piece of the parking action at Cowboys Stadium.

A new ordinance sets fees as well as restrictions on where and how parking lots can operate in Arlington's entertainment district.

City officials said the ordinance – approved Tuesday night – should protect neighborhoods from illegal parking, prevent traffic backups getting into lots and help crack down on scam artists.

"We want to make sure that people park where it's safe and where they don't get ripped off by somebody who takes their money and doesn't have a parking spot for them," said Mayor Robert Cluck. "We want to improve everyone's experience. It's really for the fans."

Entrepreneurial parking was unregulated for the stadium's first two public events this month, but lot operators will have to pay the $150 to $400 fee to open for the CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer quarterfinal July 19. Arlington officials said they didn't have any large-scale parking problems at the stadium's first concerts.

The City Council also voted to expedite an ordinance allowing Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks to convert a former mobile home park into an 18.9-acre parking lot near Cowboys Stadium.

Earlier, that land was mentioned as a possible hotel site, but Hicks' Glorypark mixed-use development has been put on hold indefinitely because of the economy. That was projected to be one of the nation's largest sports-anchored developments before it was shelved.

Also, his Hicks Sports Group defaulted this spring on about $525 million in loans connected to the Rangers and Dallas Stars. Hicks has said he would be willing to sell stakes in the teams.

The council made several changes from the parking ordinance approved on its initial reading two weeks ago.

The rules originally would have prevented vacant properties from operating entrepreneurial lots, but that was modified to allow parking at properties where redevelopment was "imminent." That includes land that has been platted or where a building permit was issued.

The council wanted to encourage addition development near the stadium, but some members were concerned that property owners would be content to use their land for parking. Some places were charging as much as $60 per car for parking in entrepreneurial lots at the debut George Strait concert, although that included pizza.

"We really feel strongly that undermines our broader economic development goals for the [entertainment] district," said Trey Yelverton, a deputy city manager.

The city also backed off restrictions preventing businesses from leasing all of their spaces for event parking. In one case, a gas station dedicated all of its space to parking and was essentially out of the gasoline business for part of the day.

A lighting requirement was also eased. A lot could provide permanent or temporary lighting or additional attendants for security instead.

The ordinance also sets standards for signs and requires a green "P" with a circle as well as a permit number to show motorists that it's a valid lot.

A few businesses received breaks because of the changes made Tuesday, but other property owners are now out of the parking business. Michael Luvaul, who operated a parking lot on 2 acres of vacant land near the stadium, is one of the latter.

He said he hoped that the entrepreneurial parking would help him recover some of the $15,000 spent on townhome planning for that site, but his property is in a protected residential area. Those areas are barricaded during events to prevent illegal parking in neighborhoods.

However, he said that hasn't stopped taxis and limousines from queuing up on his street awaiting the end of the concerts.

"They are trying to protect the integrity of the neighborhood, but they'll allow Jerry Jones to stack limousines behind the barricades," he said. "The little guys don't get a chance."