Anaheim Planning Commission Approves DisneylandForward
DisneyLandForward cleared a significant hurdle on Monday when the Anaheim Planning Commission approved the project with a 5-1 vote. It will now need to be approved by the Anaheim City Council. That vote will likely come in April.
The DisneylandForward project doesn’t offer any park-specific details. Rather, it’s Disney’s attempt to update the 1996 agreement the company has with the city of Anaheim. Disney wants to rezone the land surrounding the two parks for general use.
Disney promises to spend at least $1.9 billion on the Disneyland Resort if the project is approved. Possible new attractions include Tron, Zootopia, Frozen, and Peter Pan. The company will also invest in hotels, restaurants, and retail spaces while making numerous infrastructure improvements. Finally, Disney has pledged $30 million for affordable housing initiatives.
Read more about the DisneylandForward project.
Monday’s meeting was well attended. Many residents and local business owners voiced their support of the project while others raised concerns about noise pollution, increased traffic, and Disney’s commitment to their employees. Duane Roberts, editor of the Anaheim Investigator, called out the $30 million earmarked for housing as “puny.” Disney is currently spending $351 million on affordable housing near Walt Disney World.
The Anaheim Investigator has learned Disney is building a 1,400 unit affordable housing complex in Florida that will cost $351 million. Contrast that with their proposal for DisneylandForward to only give $30 million to Anaheim for affordable housinghttps://t.co/DgoSpJ3FKh
— Anaheim Investigator (@anaheiminvstgtr) February 14, 2024
DisneylandForward will most likely be approved when the City Council votes on the project next month. At that point, fans hope Disney will provide concrete plans for Disneyland expansion, perhaps as soon as the D23 Fan Event in August.
Want a deeper dive into DisneylandForward? I encourage you to visit Anaheim’s website and the project’s official website for more detailed information.
