Disney Finally Kills Affordable Housing Plan Near the Anaheim Resort

Disney has been battling with the city of Anaheim and affordable housing activists over a plan to develop a housing complex across the street from the Disney Anaheim Resort. The battle has gone back and forth, but Disney finally won:

ANAHEIM - Disney officials finally got what they wanted: no residential zoning near their theme parks.

Late Tuesday, the City Council reversed its decision to allow homes in the Anaheim Resort tourist area. The council also pulled a referendum on the issue off the June ballot.

The vote was 3-2. Council members Lorri Galloway and Bob Hernandez voted against the repeal, saying they support housing.

"I do believe we need to keep the Resort area as special," said Councilwoman Lucille Kring, who previously backed the housing plan.

The repeal came after more than a year of an aggressive campaign led by Disney to halt developer SunCal's plans to build 1,500 homes across from the company's property, where a theme park may go.

But SunCal ran into trouble last month with its deal to buy the 26.7-acre plot, causing SunCal to sue the property owner. A SunCal attorney told city officials the developer was no longer seeking the plan. The council called for another vote.

At the hearing, nine of the 11 people who spoke backed the repeal. Two affordable-housing supporters opposed the change.

I've been on Disney's side in this fight all along. The Resort area should remain a special place to go rather than creating an affordable housing ghetto right next to the tourist areas. I'm surprised the city officials ever gave the idea any serious thought.