ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Anaheim Resort Plan: Questions Linger

On paper, plans to rejuvenate the area known as the Anaheim Resort look fine: lavish landscaping, wide walkways, utility lines below ground, discreet commercial signs rather than neon monstrosities (if businesses follow the official encouragement). All in all, it would be an improvement over the slightly seedy look that now exists in some of the area around Disneyland. Still, the city will have to answer questions and objections to its plan--as officials should have realized during the five-hour meeting to discuss the proposal two weeks ago.

The meeting ended with the Planning Commission approving the $172-million plan. One commissioner aptly noted that the area is heavily dependent on tourists, who need to feel they have arrived somewhere nice.

Disney officers and other business people questioned city officials on who will have to pay for the proposed sewer, street and landscaping improvements. That is a good question, one that must be answered sooner than later. Even a deputy city manager admitted that he was uncomfortable with the vagueness of the plan’s financing. But it will be up to the City Council to hold public hearings and decide who pays what.

The current proposal envisions an increase in the hotel bed tax from 13% to 15%, plus federal, state and county funds to help with the financing. Developers in the area would also be dunned, based on a formula that remains to be worked out.

The redevelopment is a companion to Disney’s proposed $3-billion resort, to be known as Westcot. There are no guarantees that Disney will actually build the resort, but Anaheim nonetheless is smart to do its own planning. Even if the expansion falls through, the area around the existing park could stand improvement. The city also is wise to consider renovating its Convention Center.

If Westcot were built, there would be other problems. Nearly 2,000 new hotel rooms would be added, which would attract more low-income workers who will need affordable housing--already in short supply. And local schools rightly noted that they would need many more new classrooms for additional students.

The Anaheim Resort district includes Disneyland, the Anaheim Convention Center and many of the area’s big hotels. City officials said the area currently brings in between $7 million and $10 million a year in net revenue to the city. If all the proposed development goes through, the tally would be likely to increase by more than half. Those are dollars worth seeking, so long as the questions are answered properly.