Anaheim again delays vote on measure - City Council postpones a decision on Disney’s referendum for 3 weeks. At City Hall, housing advocates stage protest.

Amid a circus-like protest outside City Hall, the Anaheim City Council opted again Tuesday to delay the fate of a Disney-funded referendum asking voters to block a large housing project in the resort district.

The council postponed voting on the issue two weeks ago so that the housing developer and Disney Co. could settle their differences on the proposed 1,500-unit condominium and low-income apartment complex near Disneyland. On Tuesday, the council voted 3 to 2 to continue the item for three weeks after officials with developer SunCal Cos. requested a continuance 30 minutes before the meeting.

The council could have chosen to rescind an April vote paving the way for the housing complex or it could have placed the referendum on the ballot. But council members Bob Hernandez, Lorri Galloway and Lucille Kring were convinced that the yearlong zoning spat could be resolved if the parties continued talking. “I’ve been skeptical of a compromise,” Hernandez said, “but I didn’t want to be the one” to stop the talks.

Officials with Save Our Anaheim Resort, a Disney-funded coalition of business and community leaders, said they were disappointed that the continuance was for three weeks.

“We’re very concerned about the amount of time that’s passing, and we’re considering all our options to get this on the ballot,” said Todd Ament, the coalition’s co-chairman.

Disney officials said they were still hopeful that a compromise could be reached. “We believe it’s in the best interests of all parties involved to resolve this issue, either by agreement or election as soon as possible,” Disney spokesman Bob Tucker said.

While the council listened to public testimony on the housing development, about 60 housing advocates gathered on the lawn outside, some dressed as Disney characters, and performed a 10-minute skit to demonstrate the need for more low-cost housing in Anaheim. About 100 pup tents, intended to symbolize homelessness, overcrowding and substandard housing worldwide, were set up on the lawn.

 david.mckibben@latimes.com