News Reedy Creek Improvement District and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

[Figgy1]

More from the reporter -

A serious question. If all they're supposed to/going to do is run a municipal district (fix roads, issue permits, provide safety) why would they need that type of preemptive fire power?

 

[castlecake2.0]

A serious question. If all they're supposed to/going to do is run a municipal district (fix roads, issue permits, provide safety) why would they need that type of preemptive fire power?

That’s my question too, shouldn’t they be worrying about what they’re actually responsible for and not “big bad Disney”?

 

[Figgy1]

That’s my question too, shouldn’t they be worrying about what they’re actually responsible for and not “big bad Disney”?

Another question: Are they planning on going outside of their scope? What can they actually do according to the new charter that they would need that type of representation?

 

[afterabme]

Another question: Are they planning on going outside of their scope? What can they actually do according to the new charter that they would need that type of representation?

Just a guess. They probably want full control over all aspects of the district, including the aforementioned Developer Agreement that guaranteed rights of Disney to land in the District.

Tweet for reference:

 

[fgmnt]

My baseless speculation is that Disney had no interest in proactively suing the district but is more than happy to let the DeSantis board immediately play aggressor.

 

[flynnibus]

A serious question. If all they're supposed to/going to do is run a municipal district (fix roads, issue permits, provide safety) why would they need that type of preemptive fire power?

Well to be honest.. we don't know exactly what these prior agreements cover. It's not a stretch to assume the agreements are setup to usurp the things the district does have in their domain... hence the reason for them.

Or maybe they are carte blanche handoffs... that are a superset of everything the district has in scope, etc.

 

[lazyboy97o]

@lazyboy97o since you have the most knowledge on the subject, why would the new board care about long term land use agreements other than to stick it to Disney? What is their play here?

I haven’t had a chance to look at the agreements beyond the bit shared by Bob Hazen.

It looks like we now know why there was a sudden urgency regarding the long delayed Comprehensive Plan. It seems Disney and the District essentially entered into a contract to lock down that plan. If so, this seriously blunts the best avenue of the Board to interfere in Disney’s content. Requiring development review (zoning review) would have been the most normal, backed by precedent way for the Board to get involved in what Disney is doing at Walt Disney World. Development review is the process at the Disneyland Resort that killed the Eastern Gateway. Yes the District controls building approval and code officials do technically have wide latitude, but “This doesn’t fit the character of our community” is not considered a valid reason to deny a building permit.

Again, without know the specifics, I find the claim of the agreements being illegal dubious. This was done over months, all well before the District was reconstituted and the previous board likely prohibited from entering into such agreements. This was done when the state’s position was that the District was going to be dissolved. I don’t know what would have prohibited the District from entering such an agreement. Master development agreements are not unusual. We don’t see attractions at Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando go through development review because of such agreements. Even at the Disneyland Resort, projects that have come since the Eastern Gateway was killed such as Avenger’s Campus, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad, Downtown Disney redevelopment and the new Disneyland Hotel DVC tower did not go through development review because they were within the boundaries of Disney’s agreement with the city where Disney has wide latitude to develop as they desire without city review. The argument would have to be that the District sidestepped the counties’ future authority, but it’s a process that was done in the open and the counties didn’t object. It could definitely be interesting litigation see an argument that something done in public was actually secret because it didn’t involve people involved in a secret, rushed process.

 

[flynnibus]

Sounds like the Disney board members salted the fields on their way out... and the new District wants to attack that immediately as it was specifically setup to usurp them.

 

[lazyboy97o]

My baseless speculation is that Disney had no interest in proactively suing the district but is more than happy to let the DeSantis board immediately play aggressor.

While it seems like something that can be described as a clever trap, I really don’t think that was the case. I think it was just a hedge to lock down the status quo as a wide reaching contingency plan. District goes poof? The counties inherent an agreement and don’t have to spend resources on the matter. District changes in some unpredictable way and they can’t just pull the rug. District is apathetic and disfunction and there’s a plan. It covers bases and secured what Disney wants, development control.

The threatened litigation is not a good fight for Disney. The Board is going on a spending spree and using Disney’s money. A win for Disney also doesn’t undo the underlying problem. Right off the bat this new Board has shown that they are up for big, expensive fights. The escalation is continuing.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Sounds like the Disney board members salted the fields on their way out... and the new District wants to attack that immediately as it was specifically setup to usurp them.

Except it was done before. If it was setup to usurp anyone it was Orange and Osceola Counties.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I feel like this is what they were waiting for. @Sirwalterraleigh thoughts?

I don’t know the legal angles available…plenty of older, wiser members here can do that (but not NEARLY as funny…)

But given company history, their place in todays entertainment market, and Bob iger’s 100% board unchecked, carte Blanche ego…

…they have to respond.

Now…I wouldn’t be shocked if Bob thinks he can dodge if - like Slaphead - because he doesn’t want blame and can skate (fans have allowed him never to account for clear errors for 20 years…cause it’s all Eisners fault…to this day )
…but I bet it isn’t gonna break that way.

But what do I know? Nothing. Justice has spoken (after they got done taking a show show this morning with their Minnie’s Bowtique Loofa )

 

[lazyboy97o]

if the new district starts litigation against Disney, to what extent will that impact Disney’s ability to obtain permits from the district?

Directly, it should have none. It’s more a question of how aggressive the Board wishes to be as there are ways they can impact the process.

 

[MrPromey]

My understanding of Disney’s approach is that they donate to both parties in the hope of currying favour across the board. I realise they’re not alone in this, and perhaps it’s very naive and idealistic of me to say so, but I wish they’d stop altogether.

They kinda' did and that's what started the ball rolling for the subject of this thread.

See the problem?

 

[jeanericuser001]

I think I know what they are really after. Its not control of the utilities. Its the development rights. Disney currently has for all intents and purposes a monopoly on just about everything in that district. Their hope is to force Disney to slowly pull back its control of the region thus opening it for outside companies to build on former disney property without having an agreement with disney. Those who would wish to build in that region will have to go thru the district and in turn thru DeSantis who will likely be offered generous campaign contributions for access. For all intents and purposes, he is attempting to create a revenue stream to fund his run for the presidency. This may seem like a win at first as there will be closer hotels to disney as well as restaurants and other things but anything outside this new commercial district will likely just lose money as now they have to compete with new companies right in the heart of disney itself. Of course this could be just speculation on my part but it makes sense that the one thing disney fears losing most is land rights. They have tons of untapped property just waiting to be used but they just leave it empty where is DeSantis is more than happy to build on that if it will bring in jobs temporarily.

 

[MrPromey]

Money makes the world go round.

Wait, you're calling these guys liars?

 

[Vacationeer]

It could definitely be interesting litigation see an argument that something done in public was actually secret because it didn’t involve people involved in a secret, rushed process.

I got double the chuckle reading that twice.

If the state controls RC district does that mean they can allow commercial/residential development there?

 

[castlecake2.0]

I got double the chuckle reading that twice.

If the state controls RC district does that mean they can allow commercial/residential development there?

I’m trying to piece together a map of what land the District actually owns. Most land within the borders are owned by Disney or affiliated companies, they just use the District for municipal services. The District can’t just all of a sudden decide they want to build a Desantisland Motor Inn on the side of World Drive. Most of the undeveloped bubble surrounding Disney is still owned by Disney.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

One state has lost its mind and is the center of a bizarro power vacuum run by grifters…

That’s really the deal here.

Have a nice day and carry on! Blue sky concept exploration initiative announcement any day now…

 

[mikejs78]

I’m trying to piece together a map of what land the District actually owns. Most land within the borders are owned by Disney or affiliated companies, they just use the District for municipal services. The District can’t just all of a sudden decide they want to build a Desantisland Motor Inn on the side of World Drive. Most of the undeveloped bubble surrounding Disney is still owned by Disney.

It does, but the district has the power of eminent domain.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

I think I know what they are really after. Its not control of the utilities. Its the development rights. Disney currently has for all intents and purposes a monopoly on just about everything in that district. Their hope is to force Disney to slowly pull back its control of the region thus opening it for outside companies to build on former disney property without having an agreement with disney. Those who would wish to build in that region will have to go thru the district and in turn thru DeSantis who will likely be offered generous campaign contributions for access. For all intents and purposes, he is attempting to create a revenue stream to fund his run for the presidency. This may seem like a win at first as there will be closer hotels to disney as well as restaurants and other things but anything outside this new commercial district will likely just lose money as now they have to compete with new companies right in the heart of disney itself. Of course this could be just speculation on my part but it makes sense that the one thing disney fears losing most is land rights. They have tons of untapped property just waiting to be used but they just leave it empty where is DeSantis is more than happy to build on that if it will bring in jobs temporarily.

What are you getting at? If the land is owned by Disney, then no one else has the right to build anything on it. Disney has no say on what goes on outside the boundaries of their property, or their former influence on RCID.