ANAHEIM : Opponents of Disney Resort Plan Petition

A local homeowners organization opposed to the proposed Disneyland Resort said Thursday that it plans to circulate a petition requiring that Anaheim voters have the final say on any agreement between the city and the Walt Disney Co. on the project’s financing.

Members of Anaheim Home Owners Maintaining Their Environment (HOME) said they are going to focus their attacks on the city’s financial role in the proposed resort because the City Council is ignoring their concerns about the project’s environmental harm.

“If voters in Stanton and Cypress have a right to vote on card clubs, the voters of Anaheim should have a right to vote on the development agreement for the largest project to come before the city,” said Steve White, the interim president of HOME. “It’s really the only alternative we have left.”

White said that HOME members are opposed to the $3-billion project--slated to be built next to Disneyland--because it will increase traffic, noise and air pollution and otherwise affect the quality of life for many of the group’s members who live near the area of the proposed resort.

Although the city’s five councilmen have said that they have minor questions about the environmental and planning documents covering the project, several also have indicated that the plans will probably receive unanimous approval from the council at its meeting Tuesday.

If the documents are approved, Disney will be cleared to start construction. Disney officials, however, have repeatedly stated that they will not commit to the project until they have about $800 million in city, state and federal funds, primarily to build two parking garages and massive public works improvements.

A large portion of the city’s share would apparently come from future city revenue that officials expect will be generated by the resort.

White said that HOME objects to using any city money, no matter where it comes from, for Disney’s expansion.

“We don’t think public money should be used for the benefit of a private project,” White said, adding that the petition will attempt to force the funding issue to a city referendum.

“It’s going to be difficult,” White admitted.

Anaheim City Atty. Jack L. White, no relation to HOME’s White, said that HOME is entitled to seek a referendum on the development agreement. He said the group has 30 days after the council’s approval of a development agreement to gather signatures from 10% of the registered voters in the city.

Anaheim Deputy City Manager Tom Wood said he thinks that such a petition is “premature” since the details of the development agreement have not yet been worked out with Disney. An agreement is not expected to be reached for several months.

Additionally, Wood said, HOME members “will have plenty of opportunity for public input” as the agreement goes through the Planning Commission and City Council.

Disneyland President Jack Lindquist believes that a referendum vote would only reveal the tremendous public support for the project.

“My position is it’s their right to get the signatures for a petition. It will be a rather formidable task. . . . But I know that there is overwhelming support for the Disneyland Resort among the city’s residents.”