Disney foes consider own ballot initiatives
Agitated by a Disney-backed ballot proposal that would require voter approval for housing projects in Anaheim’s tourist zone, opponents have begun mulling ballot proposals of their own.
City Councilwoman Lorri Galloway said Friday she might ask the council to place a rival initiative before voters. Galloway is contemplating an entertainment tax or some other mechanism that would force resort employers to provide low-cost housing for their workers.
Both measures are targeted for Feb. 5.
Meanwhile, SunCal Cos., a developer that wants to build a 1,500-unit condo-apartment complex in the resort district, said it also might sponsor a ballot measure.
Depending on how many groups join the fray, “there could be three, four, even five initiatives,” said Frank Elfend, a SunCal consultant.
At stake is the future of Anaheim’s tourist zone, a 2.2-square-mile area anchored by Disneyland and California Adventure. Disney has long planned to build a third amusement park in the district. In 1994, the City Council banned residential development in the neighborhood.
Disney maintains that allowing housing in the resort district would undercut its long-term plans and could stunt the tourist-related revenue the city earns from the area.
SunCal hopes to overturn the 1994 housing ban to make way for 1,500 apartments and condominiums directly across from Disney’s envisioned third park. SunCal said 225 of its units would be geared toward low-income residents. The project would replace a 300-unit mobile-home park on the property.
An earlier City Council vote on the project ended in a 2-2 deadlock, with Councilwoman Lucille Kring abstaining because of a possible conflict of interest. But the California Fair Political Practices Commission has since ruled she does not have a conflict and can vote on the project. Kring had joined with Galloway and Councilman Bob Hernandez to revisit the SunCal project.
With a City Council vote on the project scheduled April 24, Disney has launched a two-pronged bid to derail it.
In February, the company sued to block SunCal’s proposal. More recently, joined by tourism officials and business leaders, Disney announced plans for a ballot measure that would require voter approval of residential projects in the tourist zone.
About 20,000 voter signatures would be needed to qualify the initiative for the ballot. In contrast, Galloway would need just two more council votes to get her rival measure on the ballot.
The campaign promises to be hard-fought. Mayor Curt Pringle, who opposes residential development inside the tourist district, said, “I cannot envision the people of Anaheim wanting to punish the economic engine that benefits the city.”
But Galloway said Disney’s desire to block affordable housing in the tourist zone makes no sense. “If affordable housing is not in the resort area, where else would it be?” she asked. Existing upscale neighborhoods like Anaheim Hills aren’t going to want such projects either, she said.
The question of who should be responsible for alleviating the city’s housing crunch is fueling both initiative drives.
“Voters need to have a clear choice,” Galloway said. If Disney’s initiative qualifies for the ballot, she added, “I’m certain the City Council will be interested in looking at a counter-initiative.”
Disney spokesman Rob Doughty said he couldn’t comment on Galloway’s initiative idea without knowing more details.
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