ANAHEIM : Neighbors to Protest Disney Parking Plan

A central city homeowners group says that it plans to protest tonight against a proposal by Disneyland to build one of the country’s largest parking structures next to their neighborhood.

The leaders of Anaheim HOME, which represents about 175 families in the residential neighborhood west of Disneyland, said Monday that the 15,000-space structure proposed for Walnut Street just south of Ball Road will flood their neighborhood with cars. The group says it will protest the proposal at the City Council meeting tonight.

Spokesman Richard Anthony Jr. said that although the group approves of Disney’s Westcot expansion plans overall, “this parking structure is not some beautiful swan we’re talking about. It’s an ugly duckling.”

“Not much thought has been given to the quality-of-life issues involved here,” Anthony said. “The city planners and corporate officers should be ashamed of themselves.”

He and other Anaheim HOME members said that although Disney officials have met several times with neighborhood residents, the company refuses to be specific about its plans.

“I’ve been to some of (Disney’s) dog and pony shows,” Anthony said. “They are trying to ramrod through one of the largest parking structures in the United States right in our neighborhood.”

Kerry S. Hunnewell, Disney vice president for development, said Monday that he is “a bit surprised” that Anaheim HOME is complaining about the proposal. He said there have been about 10 meetings between Disney and the group.

The company has spent at least $10,000 to redesign the garage, Hunnewell said, to direct traffic away from the neighborhood and provide for buffers and landscaping to shield the area from the garage.

“How can we be more specific?” Hunnewell said.

Disney announced last December that it was planning a $3-billion expansion to the theme park, adding a futuristic global village, Westcot Center; a 5,000-seat amphitheater, three new hotels and several shops.

As part of the expansion, the company plans to build two 15,000-space parking structures at a cost of $500 million. The other would be situated at Clementine Street and Freedman Way.

The council meeting begins at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd.