THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 11, 1994 TAG: 9409110042
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WOODBRIDGE, VA. LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
The Prince William County planning commission held the first public hearing Saturday on the proposed Walt Disney Co. theme park, getting an earful from Disney officials, supporters and critics.
County officials said 181 people signed up starting at 9 a.m. to speak after the commission heard a one-hour report by its staff and a 45-minute Disney presentation.
Although the county planning staff noted concerns about the environment and transportation related to the construction of the 400-acre Disney's America history park, ``In balance, the benefits outweigh the weaknesses, and we recommend it be approved,'' planning chief Doug James told the commissioners.
The planning staff said the county would collect $27.5 million in taxes and other revenues by 2210 if the park is built.
Commission Chairman Gregory Gorgone said the nine-member panel would not vote on the Disney plan Saturday because one commissioner was unable to attend. The panel also wanted to give Disney time to respond to questions raised at the hearing.
Gorgone said the commission could vote on the plan at either of its next two meetings, Sept. 14 or Sept. 21.
Disney has proposed building the park and mixed-use development, including housing, on 3,006 acres near Haymarket.
Traffic to and from the $650 million park was a chief concern of citizens at the hearing. Anne Powel, a citizen activist from Fairfax, said the park would contribute to gridlock on the already clogged roads of Northern Virginia.
``It's an edge city - 35 miles from any transportation hub,'' she said as she awaited her turn to address the commission.
Scott Staley, senior development director of Disney's America, said Disney will work with the state and county to improve transportation.
Disney has offered to help widen Interstate 66, which would feed visitors to the park, and improve nine nearby intersections. However, the county planning staff said one weakness of the Disney plan was a lack of commitment to developing mass transit in the area.
The planning staff also said that clear-cutting hardwood trees for construction would remove habitats for the brown creeper, a rare bird.
``I just don't have a sense of how many stands of trees and stream beds would be left as they are,'' Gorgone said to Disney officials during their presentation.
Disney officials sought to reassure the commissioners over concerns that Disney would seek annexation by the town of Haymarket, or try to create a special tax district of their own.
Disney has yielded the right to annexation for 20 years after the start of construction.
``We have no intention of initiating or participating in any attempt to `deannex' or create a special district,'' said Dana Nottingham, Disney's America director of real estate.
The commissioners began hearing speakers after the Disney presentation in the 100-seat auditorium of the McCoart Building, the county office building. Speakers were called up by number and then by name in groups of five to approach the panel and speak for three minutes each.
``Disney will bring with them an economic boon to the county and state that is very badly needed,'' said Haymarket resident Shirley Parlavati.
Rex Parr of Manassas, a member of the Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce, said Disney would diversify the area's tax base.
``Our tax base is overweighted in the residential and underweighted in commercial development,'' Parr said.
One of those speaking against the project was Roy Hoagland of the Richmond branch of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
``It will contribute to the bay's decline,'' he said. ``Haymarket is in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay drainage area.''
Hoagland also said he was concerned about traffic, air pollution and ``leapfrogging development'' that would be built around the Disney project.
About 200 other people milled around the building's atrium, and Disney supporters and detractors demonstrated outdoors carrying signs reading: ``Don't Orlandoize Prince William,'' and ``Disney: Good for Jobs, Good for the Economy.''
Both sides signed up new members and sold posters and T-shirts.
Prince William County police separated park opponents from Disney officials about 8 a.m. after the protesters surrounded park officials trying to enter the building and began arguing, police said. No one was arrested. by CNB