Disney May Have Made The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Irrelevant
Just when you thought the battle of Reedy Creek Improvement District, the State of Florida, and Disney was over, it seems to be starting back up again.
Photo Credit: https://www.worldofwalt.com/disney-private-government-disneys-reedy-creek-improvement-district.html
The new Central Florida Tourism Oversight district is now weighing its legal options after learning that the Walt Disney Company quietly passed a 30-year development agreement with Reedy Creek in the waning hours of that district’s existence.
A Powerless Board?
According to the Orange County Register and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight district’s new Board of Supervisors, Disney’s development pact and restrictive covenants essentially make the new board powerless to manage their district.
Photo: The Business Journal
“We’re going to have to deal with it and correct it,” board member Brian Aungst Jr. said. “It’s a subversion of the will of the voters and the Legislature and the governor. It completely circumvents the authority of this board to govern.”
The Timeline
The Reedy Creek Improvement District Board reportedly approved the agreement on February 8th, 2023, one day before the Florida House voted to dissolve Reedy Creek.
Photo: Also The Business Journal
The agreement allows Disney to build projects at the highest density and the right to sell or assign those development rights to other district landowners, without the board having a say.
Photo: Reedy Creek
Reedy Creek board members had a public meeting when passing the agreement but spent little time in discussion before unanimously approving it.
What’s Next?
The next place of battle between Disney and Florida may be in court. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District is reportedly bringing in outside law firms to challenge Disney’s control.
Photo: Greg Angel also Spectrum News 13
The Orange County Register also reported an unsigned statement from The Walt Disney Company, which reads as follows:
“”All agreements signed between Disney and the district were appropriate and were discussed and approved in open, noticed public forums in compliance with Florida’s Government in the Sunshine law.”
Photo: Disney
As always, make sure to check back in with MickeyBlog. We will continue to bring you updates on all the news surrounding the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
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