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

DATE: THURSDAY, September 1, 1994                   TAG: 9409010109
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: VIRGINIA   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DISNEY BALKS AT RESTRICTIONS

If Prince William County imposes limits on Disney's America's air shows and late-night fireworks, as planners have recommended, Walt Disney Co. officials said they might not go forward with the $650 million theme park near the Northern Virginia town of Haymarket.

The shows are Disney's ``signature elements'' and are expected by visitors, Disney's America Development Director Dana Nottingham told county planning commissioners.

``Disney's America is a new project we must justify on economic'' grounds, he said. ``We have little room to fluctuate.''

Area residents strongly back restrictions on air shows and fireworks.

``Small children have to get to sleep, and their parents have to get up early to get to work the next day,'' said Ellen Penar, head of the 3,000-member Coalition of Gainesville District Residents. ``They should not have to feel they're living in Bosnia.''

Penar said that residents, who already lie under one approach to Dulles International Airport, also feared the harassment of more air traffic.

Disney's tougher position comes as the county and Disney enter a final, public phase of zoning talks over the 3,000-acre project leading to a Sept.10 Planning Commission hearing and vote.

The Board of County Supervisors plans to vote on the rezoning in October. The majority has indicated solid support for the project.

Nottingham said the air operations are vitally important to Disney, just as Disney's assurance that the theme park won't secede from the county is vital to Prince William.

If the 3,000-acre site were to be incorporated as an independent locality - something Disney has done with its park in Florida - Prince William could lose $12 million to $30 million in tax revenue.

So far company officials have refused to pledge never to secede, and five of the eight planning commissioners have said Disney's reluctance could be a ``deal breaker.''

Several legal specialists said this week that Prince William won legal immunity in 1980 from town and city incorporations. Still, the objections by each side provide room to negotiate and compromise as the process enters its final days.

At issue is a July 27 report by planners that recommended restricting fireworks and denying Disney a special zoning permit for air shows at its theme park resort 35 miles west of Washington.

Planners said the company had not supplied enough information about noise impact and flight paths of air-show planes.

by CNB