The Fishers Redevelopment Commission on Wednesday increased the amount it will cover for a planned 200,000-square-foot multi-sports complex from $15 million to $23 million, clearing the way for developer Buckingham Properties to buy the project site, near the Fishers Event Center.

The commission approved an amendment to its professional services agreement with Buckingham on a voice vote with no discussion from members.

Attorney Jennifer Messer told the commission the change was needed after a neighboring property owner, Sunbeam, declined to grant Buckingham an easement that would have allowed initial site work to begin before the land purchase. Messer said the city had worked for years to get an easement from Sunbeam.

With that option off the table, Messer said, Buckingham decided to close on the property now because the project is on a tight schedule. She said there are commitments to have a user in the building by a certain date.

The original agreement, approved around July 1, authorized up to $15 million for Buckingham to buy steel, complete design work and cover other soft costs, including engineering. The amended agreement raises that ceiling to $23 million, which Messer said includes a buffer, and adds the cost of buying the site to the list of reimbursable expenses. At least $11 million of the total is set aside for building materials.

Under the agreement, the commission will reimburse Buckingham’s documented costs if the developer cannot acquire the site, if the city and Buckingham do not sign a lease, or if project financing falls through for reasons beyond Buckingham’s control. Messer said that if the deal goes awry, the property would be transferred to the commission “because it’s our dime.”

The amendment also pushes back the deadline for acquiring the site and signing a lease from Sept. 30 to Nov. 30.

The planned facility, described at an earlier meeting as a field house with some office space, would be built and then leased to the city long term. The Fishers City Council has already approved the lease. Messer said the commission will hold a public hearing on the lease Nov. 17 before voting on it.

Commission members are President Brad Johnson, Tony Bonacuse, Damon Grothe, Dan Canan and Anderson Schoenrock.