Community members speak out against Disney affordable housing project

Residents in Horizon West spoke out against Walt Disney World's proposed affordable housing project at a community meeting Wednesday, Sept. 6.

Applicant Kathy Hattaway, Walt Disney Imagineering, is requesting to develop up to 1,450 multi-family dwelling units in the area.

Community members voiced concerns regarding traffic and transportation, school capacity, location, affordability and attainability, and more. 

"Now, on top of the other apartments that others are building in the area this is going to be added, and there's a dramatic burden there," one resident said. "I think the affordability and what these cast members are in a position to have to contend with is really something that the company needs to deal with too. I feel like this is a bandaid that they're putting forth that's ultimately, for whatever it's worth, saving public face that they're doing something. ... It's not right. This isn't where it should be built."

The proposed parcel sits on 114.23 acres on Hartzog Road, generally bounded by Hartzog Road to the north and east, and State Road 545 to the west. 

The applicant's request is to amend the Future Land Use Map to apply the Village FLUM designation through the expansion of the Village H boundary. The concurrent request includes also to rezone to Planned Development District and to assign Horizon West Special Land Use Map designation of Apartment District.

However, not all in attendance were against the project. 

One resident, who moved to the Orlando area about five years ago as a Disney, hourly cast member, said at the time she joined a Facebook group for apartment hunting that she is still a part of today. 

"The posts are really scary to me," she said. "I'm really aware of the housing crisis as someone who very rarely can afford an apartment to live in. Since COVID, rents on average have increased 30%. I am a working, successful, professional and it is very, very difficult for me to afford to live alone in a one bedroom apartment. But on this Facebook group, there are people who are still hourly cast members who are desperate for someone to fill a bedroom so they can afford a $600 rent, who are desperate to share a car because they can't afford to get to work. ... I think all of your concerns are so valid. ... But one thing I would ask you to remember is that you mentioned 'just not in our backyard.' These people are already in your backyard. They drive from other parts of Orange County, from Osceola County, from Lake County, they drive to work in your backyard every day. They are the engine of Central Florida."

The project will next move forward to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The recommendation from the PZC will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners. 

This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates.