Disney Co. Raps Plan for Project Next Door

Walt Disney Co. officials on Monday criticized a report on a proposed outdoor retail, entertainment and hotel complex across the street from Disneyland, saying it would “jeopardize” the resort area’s future.

Operators of the theme park contend that an environmental report on the proposed $450-million Pointe Anaheim project contains numerous deficiencies.

Disney questions “the character of the development,” the potential for environmental harm and the project’s compliance with the city’s master resort plan, said Timur F. Galen, senior vice president of Walt Disney Imagineering.

Robert Shelton, Pointe Anaheim project manager, said that while he has not had a chance to review Disney’s 61-page comment letter, the entertainment company’s concerns are “not factual.” He said the project is in line with the vision for the resort area.

The criticism of the potentially lucrative project comes at a time when Disney is planning to build Downtown Disney--a similar area of shops, restaurants and a hotel--between the existing Disneyland and the new California Adventure, which is under construction.

Galen said his company isn’t opposed to the idea of Pointe Anaheim. “We believe the project could successfully be developed with modifications,” he said.

Pointe Anaheim is planned for 29 acres off Harbor Boulevard, across from the $1.4-billion California Adventure theme park. The concept is similar to Pointe Orlando near Disney World in Florida.

Pointe Anaheim would feature restaurants and entertainment, three hotels with a total of 1,050 rooms, live-performance theaters and a family entertainment center. The developers are Western Asset Management in Phoenix, Excel Legacy Corp. in San Diego and Anaheim Center for Entertainment, a private developer.

Disney’s criticism was filed with Anaheim at the end of the public comment period for reaction to the environmental impact of the project. City officials would not comment on the project or Disney’s objections. They also would not yet say whether they had received any other public response.

Disney officials contend that Pointe Anaheim developers “want to change the adopted land use, density and signage regulations” by using an expedited process that shortcuts environmental review and public comment.

As a result, Disney said, the changes Pointe Anaheim is proposing would “set a dangerous precedent and jeopardize the future viability of the resort area.”

Disney contends that a full environmental impact report should be done for the project.

“An environmental impact report is typically required when a project has significant impacts. This is a very large, complex project that has significant impacts,” Galen said. “What an EIR does is allow for a fuller investigation and public review process.”

Shelton disagrees, saying the developers did not take a shortcut. The project has undergone exhaustive environmental studies, he said, and any impact has been addressed properly.

Disney points to problems with traffic and parking.

Disney argues that Pointe Anaheim underestimates evening peak-hour traffic with its plans to add retail and entertainment venues to an area that is primarily for hotels. As a result, the project would create a 400% increase in traffic at major intersections during evening rush hours, Galen said.

Disney also said that Pointe Anaheim is “woefully underparked,” providing substantially less parking than required by city code. “It just exacerbates the parking problems,” Galen said.

Shelton said a “Dear Neighbor” letter Disney is sending to surrounding property owners and businesses about the company’s concerns inaccurately portrays the project.

For instance, he said, a full environmental study isn’t required because the developers have fully addressed any problems with traffic, parking and other environmental impacts.

Shelton pointed out that the project still has to be presented to the city for approval.

“In my opinion, we will help Disney, not hurt them,” Shelton said. “The city’s full economic potential will only be achieved when Anaheim itself becomes the destination, rather than any single destination within the city.”

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Pointe of Contention

Disney officials object to a proposal for a development directly across the street from Disney’s California Adventure theme park. Pointe Anaheim would include restaurants, family entertainment and hotels. Objections center on increased traffic and parking problems that could be created. A similar development, Pointe Orlando, exists near Walt Disney World in Florida.