Disney fight over housing complex to go on ballot

Supporters of a Disney-funded referendum that would prevent a 1,500-unit housing complex from being built near Disneyland said Monday they had gathered enough signatures to place the issue on the February ballot.

A coalition of business and community leaders said it delivered 21,243 signatures to Anaheim City Hall on Monday, three days before the deadline.

The coalition had 30 days to collect the signatures of 13,200 registered voters to rescind the council’s 3-2 zoning approval for the controversial project, which would comprise 1,275 condominiums and 225 apartments for low-income families. The coalition includes state Sen. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, former Mayor Tom Daly and Councilman Harry Sidhu.

“This was a tremendous challenge from the beginning, but we’re elated with the massive amount of public support we’ve received,” said Todd Ament, co-chairman of Save Our Anaheim Resort district. “To get 8,000 more signatures than we needed sends a clear message to the City Council to preserve the resort district that funds vital city services.”

Supporters of the housing countered with a campaign that collected more than 2,000 cards from petition signers who had changed their minds, according to Anaheim city officials. City Clerk Linda Nguyen said her office could not accept withdrawal cards once the petitions were filed.

“We believe the Disney Corp. submitted their signatures several days before the deadline because they were aware of the steady growing numbers of Anaheim residents who had requested their signatures be withdrawn from the referendum petition,” said Frank Elfend, who helped coordinate the withdrawal campaign and is a consultant on the housing project.

Supporters of the complex say it would help alleviate the city’s housing shortage.

The referendum could join another Disney-backed initiative that would preserve tourist-only uses in the entire resort district. The Disney coalition has about 120 days to gather the required signatures for the initiative.

Disney, which also has filed a lawsuit challenging the proposed development on a 26-acre parcel on Katella Avenue, contends that such a project would jeopardize its vision for the 2.2-square-mile tourist-friendly area, which includes a third park and more hotels.

More than 100 volunteers and a few dozen paid signature gatherers participated in the referendum campaign, walking neighborhoods and staffing tables at shopping centers and community events. Disney contributed $100,000. Coalition members also pitched in to fund the campaign, which was launched two days after the council vote on the housing project.

On Saturday, coalition organizers concluded their campaign with three signing picnics that collected more than 1,000 total signatures. Nguyen said her office would review the signatures and forward them to the Orange County registrar’s office, which has 30 days to verify them.

david.mckibben@latimes.com