To finish the critique of yesterday's way-off-base editorial on the Anaheim Resort District fight, let's proceed down the editorial, which makes this statement:
Supporters of a second Disney-backed initiative, which would require all proposed housing projects to be put to a citywide vote, are still collecting signatures for it.
An increasingly prevalent perception -- but one that's incorrect.
The Disney/SOAR initiative doesn't apply only to housing. It would mandate that any amendment or modification of the permitted and conditionally permitted uses under Anaheim Resort Specific Plan, Disneyland Specific Plan and Hotel Circle Specific Plan would have to go to a city-wide vote of the people. Forever.
Say, for example, you own a 350-room hotel in the resort district and your property is capped at 400 hotel rooms -- but you want add another 200 rooms. This is a purely tourist use, but under the SOAR initiative the property owner would be forced put his or her expansion plans to a city-wide vote since the expansion amends/modifies the permitted and conditionally permitted uses under the resort specific plan.
Not that Disney cares, since their initiative doesn't apply to them -- just the other property owners in the resort area.
With no real principles at stake, one's decision on these matters comes down to personal preference. If you believe the zoning has worked as promised and should continue, as we do, then tilt that way. If you believe the housing shortage trumps that track record and agreement, tilt that way.
This is dead wrong. OC Register editorial page's initial position on this issue was an endorsement of Disney's position. The Register subsequently pulled back to a nominally more neutral "it's just a fight between to corporations" -- but they're still wrong.
There is a principle at stake, and it's the extent to which Anaheim is willing to cede de facto governmental power to Disney. Supporting Disney's initiative is the practical equivalent of stripping the elected city council of planning authority within the resort district and giving the Disney corporation -- elected by no one -- permanent control of what is and what isn't permitted within the Anaheim Resort Area.
Disneyland is good for Anaheim. And Disney's voice should be heard in the halls of Anaheim government and given serious and due consideration.
But Disney's shouldn't be the only voice, and should be permitted to override all others.
It's too bad the OC Register seems unable to pierce the clouds of Disney's corporate myth-making and take a more sober and penetrating look at what's at stake.
