Anaheim hosting open house for residents to ask questions about Disneyland development plans

Residents with questions about what changes would be coming with Disneyland’s proposed development plans will get a chance to talk with city staff at an upcoming open house focused on the project.

The open house will be held 6 to 8 p.m. on April 10 at the Downtown Anaheim Community Center, 250 E. Center St.

Residents can stop by anytime to ask questions and learn about DisneylandForward, the company’s on-property expansion plans. City officials said the open house will be focused on informing residents, and those looking to share their thoughts are encouraged to attend the April 16 City Council meeting, when city leaders are set to vote on the project.

If the City Council approves DisneylandForward, Disney is committing to invest at least $1.9 billion into theme park development, including hotels and attractions, but all within the current property’s footprint. Those new developments would be closer to residential areas on the resort’s west side, which is occupied mostly by parking lots and two Disney-owned hotels. New entertainment areas are also expected to be built at the Toy Story Parking lot on Harbor Boulevard.

Disney is also agreeing to paying the city more than $100 million for streets, parks and affordable housing in exchange for planning guarantees that would last for 40 years. That includes expedited permit reviews and certainty that the city won’t change zoning in the future.

The city’s Planning Commission approved the project at its March 11 meeting.

The company has not committed itself to what might be built in the coming years. Lands from the films “Zootopia” “Avatar” and “Frozen” have been discussed in public by company officials.

A contested part of the project has been the city selling Magic Way, an 1,150 foot-long street between Walnut Avenue and Disneyland Drive, along with a few other streets to Disney. Residents have said they use Magic Way as a shortcut to access the 5 Freeway and have asked the city to not sell it.

Disney is paying $40 million to buy the roads. An appraisal for the roads done for Disney marked Magic Way’s value at $12 million. The city would also abandon plans to extend Clementine Street and Gene Autry Way.

Disney began talking about DisneylandForward three years ago. City officials have called it one of the largest potential developments in Anaheim with the company’s $1.9 billion investment commitment over the next decade.

The City Council will vote on DisneylandForward at its April 16 meeting. Council meetings typically start at 5 p.m. and are held in the City Council Chambers at 200 S. Anaheim Blvd.

Source: Orange County Register