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

DATE: THURSDAY, September 22, 1994                   TAG: 9409230112
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MANASSAS                                LENGTH: Short

PRINCE WILLIAM PLANNERS OK DISNEY PARK

After nearly a year of wrangling over everything from traffic and toilets to fireworks, Prince William County planners voted Wednesday night to support Walt Disney Co.'s proposed theme park.

``It's an important milestone,'' said Mary Anne Reynolds, a Disney spokeswoman, noting that the process at times has been ``difficult and intense.''

Disney had sought a wide range of zoning changes in order to build a $650 million American history-based theme park near Haymarket. Disney filed 1,500 pages of documents with its zoning requests.

In a series of votes, the county Planning Commission supported a comprehensive plan amendment, rezoning application and special-use permits for fireworks, air shows, a campground and lodging. All but one of the votes was 7-1.

Richard Hefter, a Planning Commission member who represents the area where the park would be located, voted against Disney on each of the questions.

``This area was never planned for this kind of intensive development,'' he said. ``This is a classic example of moving the suburban sprawl farther out.''

Also Wednesday, a regional transportation panel approved a $130 million package of road improvements key to Disney.

by CNB