
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 2, 1993                   TAG: 9312020043
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

DISNEY WOOS VA. BUSINESS LEADERS

A Disney executive has promised Virginia business leaders his company will be a good neighbor when it builds its American history theme park in Prince William County.

Meanwhile, an environmental group held a news conference in Washington, D.C., to unveil its campaign to block Disney's America.

The Piedmont Environmental Council held a news conference to unveil its Take Another Look campaign to urge Disney and government leaders to reconsider plans for the theme park near Haymarket. The group argues that the Prince William site is not the best one for the park.

Robert Dennis, president of the council, said the Disney plan would "suck sprawl to the Blue Ridge. It pays no attention to public transportation, pockets of serious unemployment, declining communities or available infrastructure."

Bob Shinn, senior vice president of Disney Development, outlined plans for the park at a seminar sponsored by the Virginia Department of Economic Development.

"Disney is here to listen. We want to listen to the residents of Prince William County and Northern Virginia," Shinn said. "We want to understand the issues. We want to understand the concerns."

Shinn asked Virginia businesses to support the park, which would employ about 3,000 people when it opens in 1998. Building it would provide about 4,000 construction jobs over the next three years.

He argued that the park will not create huge traffic jams, because its visitors will be traveling at off-peak hours and against the flow of commuters into Washington. Disney wants the state to build a new Interstate 66 interchange for the park.

"All opportunities for mass transit, we will explore and try to make happen," Shinn said.

In response to questions, he said Disney expects taxpayers to pay for the highway improvements as part of a "public-private partnership."

He said the park should not hurt other historical attractions in Virginia, specifically Colonial Williamsburg.

"We have not gone into the Colonial period" in exhibits planned for the park, he said. "We are very mindful of the heritage of the state, and we want to foster it."

by CNB