Disney Moves to Build, but Hasn’t Decided What

Although Disney is starting the planning process with the city of Anaheim, officials of the entertainment company say that they still have little idea what they will put on a 92-acre parcel near its two existing amusement parks.

Getting approval for a draft environmental report will be Disney’s first major hurdle. In July, Disney executives announced vague plans to build a third amusement park complex. They lobbed options such as a 78-acre theme park or water park, more hotels and a retail and dining center.

Disney officials said Wednesday that they aren’t any closer to knowing what they plan to build, but continue to move forward with the process.

“We’re not even at the ramp-up phase,” said Ed Chuchla, director of development for Walt Disney Imagineering. “Until you understand that you have the right to be there, it doesn’t make sense to start the creative process.”

The Anaheim Planning Commission this week unanimously approved a procedure for Disney to seek changes to existing city plans that guide development. And city officials expect the draft environmental impact report to be completed soon. That routine report will address issues such as transportation, utilities, water, air quality and noise, said Assistant City Manager Tom Wood, although the city doesn’t yet know what would be located on the site.

“We do these things all the time,” he said.

The city looked at the same issues when it approved plans for the second theme park, Disney’s California Adventure, which opened earlier this year. Wood said many of the infrastructure issues, such as transportation, that would affect current plans already were addressed during California Adventure planning.

The firmest elements of the plan so far are for a 9,000-space parking structure and an elevated “people mover” linking the third site with Disneyland, Downtown Disney and California Adventure.

Still to come is word on what Disney would place on the remaining 78 acres, south of Katella Avenue and east of Harbor Boulevard.

Steve White, president of Homeowners for Maintaining Their Environment, a neighborhood group that is critical of California Adventure, said the group is awaiting the draft environmental impact report. Until then, he said, “We’re kind of in the dark. . . . I expect our concerns are going to be largely the same, the impact on air quality, traffic, schools, that sort of thing.”

White said he finds it peculiar that the city can draft an environmental impact report without knowing specifically what Disney might build.

“How can you really study something when you don’t know what it is?” he said. “It’s like a developer’s blank check, I suppose.”

City officials said the report will address all scenarios--hotels, a theme park and a retail and entertainment center. And Disney planners said they would be required to abide by any city requirements.

“The EIR sets up a restrictive envelope and says, ‘Here’s all the rules you have to abide by,’ ” Chuchla said. “There are some very clear perimeters.”

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Mickey’s Expanding Empire

In hopes of developing a full-fledged urban resort, Disney has begun planning a third amusement park in Anaheim. Company officials say, however, that they have not even begun the creative planning for the site.

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Graphics reporting by BRADY MacDONALD / Los Angeles Times