Disney Project’s Effects on Traffic, Air Outlined : Expansion: Environmental report raises seven major problems, which park officials say can be overcome.

The proposed $3-billion Disneyland Resort project in Anaheim would snarl traffic during construction, add thousands of cars to local freeways, worsen air quality and require massive spending on public works, according to a city report released Thursday.

Yet despite at least seven major problems identified in a 500-page draft environmental impact report, Walt Disney Co. officials said none is severe enough to scrap the ambitious project, which promises to generate thousands of jobs, revitalize Anaheim’s public works systems and boost the local economy.

“Now, we want to keep ourselves focused, keep our eyes on the prize and make this happen,” said Kerry Hunnewell, Disney Development Co. vice president in charge of the expansion, in acknowledging that the report’s release launches an extensive review process.

The document also stated that the project and surrounding development would probably overburden all current utilities and public safety resources in the city. Needs would be created for widened streets, expanded sewer systems, additional fire equipment and the hiring of 22 new police officers before the park’s opening in 1998, according to the report.

But perhaps the most ominous obstacle facing the expansion was not required to be addressed in the report: How the $3-billion cost will be divided between the city and Disney. Earlier estimates had pegged Disney’s need for public money at near $1 billion.

Disney and city officials both said Thursday that they expect the public cost of the project to be returned through increased commerce and the property, hotel and sales taxes it would generate.

Both company and city officials promised that current city revenues would not be touched to finance the expansion.

“The cardinal rule is that the (city’s) general fund will have no risk,” Hunnewell said.

Mayor-elect Tom Daly said there has been “an informal commitment by the city leadership to avoid using any of the city’s existing revenues to finance future improvements in the tourism area.”

“This project from the standpoint of economic development is the biggest and best project to come along in the history of Anaheim, as well as the history of Orange County,” Daly said. “The economic benefits should be enormous.”

Councilman Irv Pickler also supported the Disney project. “It’s going to be a good thing all the way around,” he said, adding that paying for public works and safety projects should not be a problem.

“When this thing is bringing in $35 million into our general fund, with the revenues from sales tax and bed tax and such, it’s not going to be a problem,” he said.

Ultimate approval of the environmental report rests with the City Council, where a clear majority supports Disney’s plan. A vote on the environmental feasibility of the project is expected by summer.

The expansion would include three new hotels with a total of 5,600 rooms, a second theme park called Westcot Center, a 5,000-seat amphitheater, a retail district ringing a six-acre lake, and lush pedestrian walkways throughout. Also key are proposals for two of the nation’s largest parking structures, with direct access from the Santa Ana Freeway.

The release of the draft environmental impact report culminates about 18 months of work by the city and Disney. A completed report is mandated by state law for large developments. Disney paid the report’s costs, put at $5 million to $10 million.

Before the report can be finalized, however, there must be a 45-day period for public comment.

At least one neighboring city, Garden Grove, has already asked Anaheim officials to extend the review process so it can fully assess the impacts. Anaheim has denied Garden Grove’s request.

Additionally, county, state and federal agencies are expected to comment on the report’s findings, and possibly request that more research be done on such things as traffic and air quality estimates.

Connie Day of the South Coast Air Quality Management District said her agency will “make comments on (the report). Our concern is primarily traffic and that (Disney officials) reduce their emissions to the greatest extent possible.”

The most vocal group on the report may be the Anaheim residents who live near Disneyland and who are concerned about the congested streets, noise and air pollution that will be generated by the new theme park.

Disney officials say they have gone to great lengths to consult with residents. For example, Disney officials said they redesigned the west parking structure so that there was no guest or employee access to residential Walnut Street.

But Disney’s efforts have not satisfied all residents.

“I don’t know that (Disney officials) have listened to us at all,” said Curtis Stricker, president of Anaheim Home. “There are still a lot of problems to be solved. Hell, we don’t know anything.”

Stricker’s group of homeowners, who live primarily in neighborhoods bordering on the park, have been Disney’s harshest public critics, and Stricker said the group opposes the project.

The group’s criticism’s have focused primarily on plans for the six-story west parking structure. “Officially, (Disney) has never made any concessions to us,” Stricker said.

In addition to the concerns of residents, Disney officials said the project was planned to minimize environmental impacts. Despite their efforts, there are seven areas--two short-term and five permanent--where the project will adversely affect the environment.

* Under the proposed expansion, a parking structure and hotel district would be built on 80 acres of prime agricultural land, much of it being used to grow strawberries. The report says the loss of such agricultural land would be significant.

Not only would agricultural land be lost, but residents abutting it along Walnut Street in Anaheim would look out on hotels and a parking structure instead of the strawberry fields. Residents to the east and west of the future development district, which is south of Katella Avenue, would also lose views of prized agricultural land.

* Furthermore, “land-use compatibility” would be significantly impacted near the agricultural land because commercial development would abut residential areas.

* Construction of the project is expected to take at least five years and create environmental problems with traffic disruption, increased smog, dust and noise, and adverse visual impacts.

* The hotels and park would generate huge amounts of garbage, which would impact limited landfill space.

* Traffic congestion would occur at the intersection of Ball Road and Anaheim Boulevard until the Santa Ana Freeway widening and related improvements are completed.

* The expansion project, with its rides and support services, would create air pollution that exceeds AQMD emission limits.

Of all the problems that must be dealt with in the next few months, traffic appears to be the overriding concern.

The traffic management plan calls for the construction of car-pool lanes and direct freeway off-ramps into parking structures. In addition to easing traffic congestion, the plan is expected to minimize pollution by cutting vehicle idling time.

In areas where the report might have found significant adverse impacts--such as housing, long-term traffic concerns, schools and water usage--it said that Disney had dealt with those through the resort’s design or other efforts.

For example, Disney’s plans for a six-acre lake on the property are not expected to present significant environmental concerns, according to the report. Excavation for the lake is expected to generate tons of debris, but much of the dirt would be used as fill in the landscaped berms surrounding the project.

City and Disney officials also believe that current water sources are sufficient to handle water consumption, which would increase from 1.6 million gallons per day to 3.5 million gallons.

Housing concerns are also believed to be minimal, as Disney contends that most of its workers are “second-wage earners” who tend not to relocate because of their jobs, according to the report. Nonetheless, Disney officials said they are committed to helping finance 500 affordable-housing units in the city if the project is built.

As part of the study’s requirements, Disney had to submit an alternate-site plan for the project as a way to compare the environmental impacts. However, its choice of Irwindale, a city about 28 miles northwest of Anaheim, was not considered a viable alternative by Disney officials.

Disney’s Hunnewell said it was more likely that the project would be scrapped than built in Irwindale.

Times staff writer Chris Woodyard contributed to this story.

Disney Tackles Traffic

Traffic management is the most crucial problem for the Disneyland expansion. Solutions include building two of the world’s largest parking structures, which would serve cars pouring in directly from the Santa Ana Freeway. The proposed traffic network: Parking * Parking structures with express ramps to each level are expected to provide for parking capability of one car per second * West structure: Six levels, 16,700 vehicles * East structure: Seven levels, 17,600 vehicles * On a peak day in year 2000, expanded resort is expected to bring 26,698 vehicles into Anaheim, while current peak periods draw 16,025 Monorail: Extension of current system to include stops at Disney’s three new hotels City shuttle service: To run from surrounding hotels, Anaheim Stadium and sports arena to various points at the park Moving sidewalks: To bring guests to entrance from parking structures Surface streets: Cerritos Street realignment to prevent park traffic from emptying on adjacent neighborhood streets Construction Phases Phase 1: 1993-1995 Phase 2: 1995-1998 Phase 3: 2000-2010 Source: Walt Disney Co., city of Anaheim Researched by KEVIN JOHNSON / Los Angeles Times

Disneyland Resort: Promise and Problems

Although the sagging Orange County tourist industry and Anaheim business community can hardly wait for Disney’s promised 12 million more guests per year and an estimated $1.2 billion in additional annual revenue, the entertainment giant has major environmental obstacles to hurdle. How Disney expects to overcome these obstacles: Traffic Obstacle: The intersection of Ball Road and Anaheim Boulevard, already one of the city’s busiest, is expected to be further stressed by some of the nearly 10,000 additional vehicles expected in the area on peak days. Solution: The widening of the Santa Ana Freeway, scheduled for completion in 2000, will significantly reduce traffic and may even improve it. Because of the freeway expansion, this is expected to be a temporary concern. Solid waste Obstacle: Limited county landfill space makes waste disposal of great concern. At current levels, Disneyland produces 15,695 tons of waste each year. With expansion, that would increase to 29,804 tons. Solution: On-site recycling will be done and Disney will continue to use Anaheim’s own recycling program to help reduce landfill needs. Projected waste, in tons per year: Westcot theme park: 15,661 Hotels: 3,460 Disneyland additions: 4,565 Future expansion district: 7,290 Note: Total does not reflect 1,172 tons that have been subtracted in form of solid waste credits Parking Obstacle: The planned parking structure on the project’s western border, and related hotel parking areas, are of significant concern to adjacent neighborhoods. Residents worry about traffic and noise on local streets. Solution: Disney has eliminated park access from Walnut Street, which would serve as the immediate buffer between the expansion and closest homeowners. Cerritos Street would be realigned so tourist traffic could not empty onto city streets. Air quality Obstacle: Additional traffic in the area and the need for additional machinery and food service operations will push restricted emissions beyond AQMD air quality standards by the year 2010. Those emissions would include gases produced by such things as food fryers and broilers, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide generated by machinery and vehicle emissions, and suspended particles in the air. Solution: Disney proposes to buy pollution credits from other companies in the region, a strategy recently approved by the AQMD. What They Say “This project from the standpoint of economic development is the biggest and best project to come along in the history of Anaheim, as well as the history of Orange County.” --Anaheim Mayor-elect Tom Daly “I don’t know that they (Disney officials have listened to us at all. There are still a lot of problems to be solved. Hell, we don’t know anything.” --Anaheim Home President Curtis Stricker Construction Obstacle: Construction will present a number of adverse conditions, from dust clouds and noise generated by truck traffic and heavy equipment to visual blight. Solution: Since construction is expected to be completed in 1998, these issues are considered temporary concerns. Visuals Obstacle: Disney has conducted meetings with neighborhood groups to listen to their concerns about the visual impacts from construction of the six-level parking structure on the project’s west side. Solution: The company has proposed a landscaped setback of 43 feet from bordering Walnut Street to the garage, as well as a terraced design for the structure and additional landscaping on each of its six levels. Green space Obstacle: The expansion would wipe out 80 acres of prime agricultural land from two parcels on the resort’s west and southeast borders. While the land has been zoned for commercial use, there is no way to replace the acres to be lost. Solution: The loss is somewhat offset by significant landscaping improvements. Source: Walt Disney Co., city of Anaheim Researched by KEVIN JOHNSON / Los Angeles Times