‘Anaheim Resort’ Plan to Get Public Hearing

The so-called “Anaheim Resort” gets its first share of scrutiny from the City Council on Tuesday as the ambitious $172-million revitalization plan designed to erase urban decay around Disneyland goes before a public hearing.

The resort plan, which calls for a massive overhaul of the 550 acres around the theme park, is supposed to encourage development and boost tax revenue and is viewed as a pivotal complement to Disney’s proposed $3-billion resort, called Westcot.

Last month, the plan was approved by the city’s Planning Commission amid rising concerns from prominent business leaders, including Disney officials, over who will pay for the sewer, street and landscaping improvements that are part of the overhaul.

City officials said financing details will be presented to the council in a separate action next month.

“The city has the resources to accomplish the revitalization program,” said Deputy City Manager Tom Wood. “The council will begin to consider the specifics of that program in early October.”

At that time, city officials are expected to propose to the council a $60-million plan to expand and renovate the Anaheim Convention Center, which is part of the Anaheim Resort area. Part of that proposal calls for a 2% hike in hotel bed tax that, if approved, would create $5 million in additional revenue.

About $9.1 million a year would come from the proposed hotel bed-tax hike, an existing 1% of the bed tax already allocated for Convention Center improvements, and $1.6 million a year from the Convention Center budget.

The money would be used to finance $120 million in construction loans and go toward the combined $230-million price tag for the Convention Center renovation and the infrastructure improvements outlined in the Anaheim Resort plan.

The city is also expecting to receive about $108.9 million from county, state and federal funds for various transportation and utility projects.

Although Disney officials say approval for their Westcot project--which would include a second theme park and thousands of hotel rooms--may be at least a year away, city officials have said they will still go forward with the revitalization project.

The Anaheim Resort district includes Disneyland, the Convention Center and most of the area’s high-rise hotels. It is roughly triangular in shape and is bounded by Orangewood Avenue on the south, Walnut Street on the west, Haster Street on the east and the Santa Ana Freeway running diagonally along the north.

The area would be heavily landscaped with wide walkways and plants. Overhead utility lines would be buried and businesses in the area would be encouraged to have signs that are less garish than some that already exist in the area.

The council will also consider approving a draft environmental impact report for the plan on Tuesday. Among the impacts identified in the plan are traffic congestion at four intersections, reduced air quality and the loss of 56 acres of prime agricultural land.

City officials have stated that the benefits outweigh the adverse impacts. The area currently contributes between $7 million and $10 million to city coffers each year.

When the rejuvenated area is completed, officials estimate that it will bring 60% more revenue to the city.