Anaheim residents and business leaders have provided early feedback on Disneyland’s planned expansion project, known as DisneylandForward.
Via a report in the Orange County Register, local residents and workers voiced their concerns and support at a planning commission workshop on Monday (9 October) that focused on the 17,000-page environmental impact report.
The planning commission heard presentations from city staff and Disney representatives about the proposal to update a 1990s Anaheim city plan to add rides, attractions, retail, dining and entertainment to the western and southeastern edges of the resort.
Disney’s global development vice president Rachel Alde said the company will work alongside residents and is “simply asking to utilize the entitlements that we already have for the theme park and hotel and spread it across the lands that we already own and control.”
Disneyland has “listened to concerns”
Beverly Griggs, who lives close to Disneyland, said she is pleased with the answers Disney has given her about the planned development.
However, she expressed concerns about pests. “When you are gonna move churros, cotton candy and popcorn a hundred feet away from my house, I want to make sure that the procedures are in place to make (sure) those little guys don’t come across,” Griggs said.
“When Disneyland closed down for the pandemic, we had rats and roaches. And as soon as Disneyland reopened, they went back.”
Frances Noteboom, who has lived by the resort for more than 20 years, said: “Initially we were upset such a huge project could be built so close to our residential neighborhood, but as time went on, we came to accept that the Disney corporation can, with permits, extend on their land as they see fit.
“The good thing is we’ve engaged with the principals of the project and they have listened to concerns and acted on our suggestions.”
Joe Haupt, a consultant for the company, said Disney has already worked closely with the local community on the expansion.
“Many of the design concepts and design features you’ll see in the project today came out of those interactions with our neighbors,” Haupt said.
Objections to the DisneylandForward project from residents included concerns about more traffic in the resort area and a lack of housing in Anaheim for additional workers.
The planning commission will vote on whether to certify the environmental impact report at a later meeting. Residents can submit comments on the report through 30 October.
Disneyland hopes to have the project go before the Anaheim City Council for approval later this year.
Images courtesy of Disney / Paul Hiffmeyer
