The DisneylandForward rezoning effort will go before the Anaheim City Council tomorrow in what will be the first crucial vote in a multi-month process. Anaheim’s City Council is set to review and vote on the DisneylandForward proposal on Tuesday, April 16, at its regularly scheduled meeting starting at 5pm.
The meeting is the first expected Council vote on DisneylandForward after public workshops in October, January and February, a Planning Commission hearing with approval in March, an April 10 community informational open house and three years of information sharing, according to the city.
If DisneylandForward were to see approval on Tuesday, a second vote would be required at the Council’s next meeting on May 7. If approved at that time, the proposal would require another 30 days for changes to take effect.
DisneylandForward is a multidecade proposal to update where types of development can go and how they mix together on space Disney already owns or operates around its Anaheim theme parks.
The proposal calls for allowing theme park attractions alongside hotels on the west side of Disneyland Drive and theme park attractions alongside new shopping, dining and entertainment to the southeast on what is today the Toy Story Parking Area at Katella Avenue and Harbor Boulevard.
The proposal also calls for expanded parking east and new parking northeast of the theme parks and potential foot bridges across Harbor Boulevard and Disneyland Drive.
The proposal does not request any new acreage, square footage or hotel rooms to be developed. Instead, it would shift already approved development amounts across land Disney now operates on.
Disney has not shared any specific development plans at this stage but has pointed to attractions at parks around the world as general examples, including a potential land based on the “Avatar” films.
As part of a proposed development agreement, Disney would commit to investing a minimum of $1.9 billion in theme park, lodging, entertainment, shopping and dining within 10 years of any approval.
The proposal also includes a development agreement between the city and Disney.
The proposed development agreement calls for Disney to provide:
- $30 million for affordable housing in Anaheim within five years of approval
- $10 million: for sewer improvements along Katella Avenue
- $8 million for Anaheim parks within first year of any approval.
DisneylandForward also includes a proposal for Disney to pay $39.6 million to take on responsibility for Magic Way, a road of 1,150 feet in length from Disneyland Drive to Walnut Street, and for entry drives into Disney parking at Hotel Way and at Clementine Street.
Much of the proposal would take surface parking lots that generate little revenue for city services and turn them into theme park attractions, hotels and entertainment that bring expanded funding for services for city residents.
Depending on what’s built, Anaheim is projected to see $15 million to $244 million in additional yearly revenue at complete buildout of what would be allowed under DisneylandForward.
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