wendyinoc_IHB
New member
<p>I know it has nothing to do with Irvine... But hey its Mickey </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>ANAHEIM - The City Council is expected to nix plans to allow housing in the Anaheim Resort – a proposal that has divided the city and drawn the ire of Disney for more than a year. </p>
<p>Councilwoman Lucille Kring, one of three members who supported the housing plan, is now saying that she will ask that the council repeal its decision to allow homes in the Disneyland area. Two other council members have already said they support the idea. The council also would kill a referendum set for the June 3 ballot to rescind the zoning.</p>
<p>Kring's change of mind came after developer SunCal sent a letter to the city, informing officials of the "decision not to continue to seek or advocate City approval of" residential zoning for its proposal. A SunCal attorney said the company still will pursue the housing development.</p>
<p>"They are not going to pursue it," Kring said. "Why should we go through the expense of an election?"</p>
<p>The council is set to discuss the issue in closed session Tuesday night (Nov. 6). </p>
<p><strong>Another blow to housing project</strong></p>
<p>Anaheim SunCal’s plan to build homes in the tourist area has run into a series of blows that could devastate the proposal that has received national attention.</p>
<p>Last month, the property owner halted a purchase agreement for the plot when developer SunCal failed to pay $500,000 to extend the deal. Two weeks ago, SunCal sued the property owner over a breach of contract. Last week, the developer sent a letter to the city, stating it was stopping legal payments to fight a Disney lawsuit against the residential project.</p>
<p>Now, a key councilwoman is saying she will move to repeal the residential zoning that breathed life into the development proposal.</p>
<p>Councilwoman Lucille Kring, one of three members who supported SunCal’s plans, said she is switching sides and will ask to overturn the previous move that paved the way for SunCal to develop the land. Under her scenario, the council would also kill a Disney-spearheaded ballot referendum, set for June, meant to halt the housing plan.</p>
<p>Already, Mayor Curt Pringle and Councilman Harry Sidhu said they would support rescinding the decision to allow housing where only new tourist uses were allowed before.</p>
<p>Monday night, Kring said she changed her mind because the Oct. 30 letter stated that SunCal had decided “not to continue to seek or advocate” residential zoning on the plot.</p>
<p>“It seems to be a moot point,” Kring said.</p>
<p>Even with the letter, SunCal attorney Skip Miller said that the company planned to keep pursuing the residential project after pouring $10 million into the effort.</p>
<p>“It does not mean we’re abandoning the project at all,” Miller said.</p>
<p>Miller declined to comment about Kring’s plans. SunCal consultant Frank Elfend could not be reached for comment Monday night.</p>
<p>SunCal’s plans have received nationwide media coverage because of Disney’s fierce opposition. Disney has led two ballot measures and a lawsuit against the city over its documents preparing for the SunCal plan. SunCal also has run into problems with development plans elsewhere, pulling out of a project near Bakersfield and defaulting on a $74 million loan.</p>
<p>Opponents of the SunCal project said they hoped the letter could signal a possible end of the battle over housing on the 26-acre plot where mostly mobile homes sit. Still, a Disney-led group plans to continue campaigning for a second ballot measure – an initiative that would require voter approval of any housing development in the Anaheim Resort tourist area.</p>
<p>“We consider it good news they are not seeking the zoning change,” said Todd Ament, co-chair for the Disney-funded Save Our Anaheim Resort.</p>
<p>Sidhu said he hopes the tension will ease up after more than a year of conflict in the city.</p>
<p>“It’s created a big headache for the policy-makerspolicy makers and created friction between the majority of the council,” Sidhu said. “This was not needed.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>ANAHEIM - The City Council is expected to nix plans to allow housing in the Anaheim Resort – a proposal that has divided the city and drawn the ire of Disney for more than a year. </p>
<p>Councilwoman Lucille Kring, one of three members who supported the housing plan, is now saying that she will ask that the council repeal its decision to allow homes in the Disneyland area. Two other council members have already said they support the idea. The council also would kill a referendum set for the June 3 ballot to rescind the zoning.</p>
<p>Kring's change of mind came after developer SunCal sent a letter to the city, informing officials of the "decision not to continue to seek or advocate City approval of" residential zoning for its proposal. A SunCal attorney said the company still will pursue the housing development.</p>
<p>"They are not going to pursue it," Kring said. "Why should we go through the expense of an election?"</p>
<p>The council is set to discuss the issue in closed session Tuesday night (Nov. 6). </p>
<p><strong>Another blow to housing project</strong></p>
<p>Anaheim SunCal’s plan to build homes in the tourist area has run into a series of blows that could devastate the proposal that has received national attention.</p>
<p>Last month, the property owner halted a purchase agreement for the plot when developer SunCal failed to pay $500,000 to extend the deal. Two weeks ago, SunCal sued the property owner over a breach of contract. Last week, the developer sent a letter to the city, stating it was stopping legal payments to fight a Disney lawsuit against the residential project.</p>
<p>Now, a key councilwoman is saying she will move to repeal the residential zoning that breathed life into the development proposal.</p>
<p>Councilwoman Lucille Kring, one of three members who supported SunCal’s plans, said she is switching sides and will ask to overturn the previous move that paved the way for SunCal to develop the land. Under her scenario, the council would also kill a Disney-spearheaded ballot referendum, set for June, meant to halt the housing plan.</p>
<p>Already, Mayor Curt Pringle and Councilman Harry Sidhu said they would support rescinding the decision to allow housing where only new tourist uses were allowed before.</p>
<p>Monday night, Kring said she changed her mind because the Oct. 30 letter stated that SunCal had decided “not to continue to seek or advocate” residential zoning on the plot.</p>
<p>“It seems to be a moot point,” Kring said.</p>
<p>Even with the letter, SunCal attorney Skip Miller said that the company planned to keep pursuing the residential project after pouring $10 million into the effort.</p>
<p>“It does not mean we’re abandoning the project at all,” Miller said.</p>
<p>Miller declined to comment about Kring’s plans. SunCal consultant Frank Elfend could not be reached for comment Monday night.</p>
<p>SunCal’s plans have received nationwide media coverage because of Disney’s fierce opposition. Disney has led two ballot measures and a lawsuit against the city over its documents preparing for the SunCal plan. SunCal also has run into problems with development plans elsewhere, pulling out of a project near Bakersfield and defaulting on a $74 million loan.</p>
<p>Opponents of the SunCal project said they hoped the letter could signal a possible end of the battle over housing on the 26-acre plot where mostly mobile homes sit. Still, a Disney-led group plans to continue campaigning for a second ballot measure – an initiative that would require voter approval of any housing development in the Anaheim Resort tourist area.</p>
<p>“We consider it good news they are not seeking the zoning change,” said Todd Ament, co-chair for the Disney-funded Save Our Anaheim Resort.</p>
<p>Sidhu said he hopes the tension will ease up after more than a year of conflict in the city.</p>
<p>“It’s created a big headache for the policy-makerspolicy makers and created friction between the majority of the council,” Sidhu said. “This was not needed.”</p>
