Anaheim moving closer on initiative

Anaheim moved a step closer Tuesday to giving voters zoning control over a third theme park planned by the Walt Disney Co.

In a 3-2 vote, the City Council directed staff to begin a process that would ultimately put the Anaheim Voter Empowerment Initiative on a ballot. Once there, supporters say, it could counter two Disney-backed measures aimed at keeping the neighborhood surrounding Disneyland and California Adventure free of housing.

“I think people on both sides need to have their voices heard at the ballot box,” Councilwoman Lucille Kring said.

Council members Lorri Galloway and Bob Hernandez had previously voiced their support for the empowerment initiative.

The third vote came from Kring, who in April had sided with the council majority in deciding to allow a proposed 1,500-unit housing project near the planned third theme park.

Kring said Tuesday that she generally doesn’t approve of ballot measures but saw the logic in an initiative asking voters to endorse any new uses for 53 acres of Disney property, which are now strawberry fields and Disneyland employee parking.

If the empowerment measure wins council approval, it would save supporters the time and expense of gathering about 14,000 signatures to get it on the ballot.

Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, who voted no, called the initiative “a punitive and retaliatory measure” against Disney’s efforts to preserve the resort district.

“This level of punitive action doesn’t make our city look very good,” Pringle said.

Kring, on the other hand, said she would continue working with the housing developer on a holistic compromise so that none of the measures appear on the ballot.

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dave.mckibben@latimes.com