Disneyland housing plan to go to vote

[crazy4wdw]

Disneyland housing plan to go to vote
August 22, 2007: 01:28 PM EST

Aug. 22, 2007 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - The City Council will let voters decide whether housing, including more than 200 affordable condominiums, should be built a few blocks from Disneyland.

City spokesman John Nicoletti said the council voted 4-1 on Tuesday to place a referendum on the June 3 ballot asking whether the council's earlier vote to change zoning in a nonresidential district should be rescinded. That vote paved the way toward allowing housing to be placed across the street from Disney-owned land.

Tuesday's vote followed months of acrimonious debate between the Walt Disney Co. and low-income housing advocates.

Disney opposes a developer's plan to build 1,500 condominiums, including 225 low-income units, within the city's resort district. The company said changing the zoning would destroy the tourism-only district, which generates half of Anaheim's annual revenue.

Housing advocates contend that low-cost units are desperately needed by workers who are essential to the city's huge tourism industry but can't afford to live nearby.

The council approved the zoning change on April 25, sparking a referendum drive by the Disney-funded group Save Our Anaheim Resort.