DeSantis’ board chair outlines the future of Reedy Creek at Disney World

As the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board voted to abolish the planning and zoning boards in the district and place all control under the board of supervisors, the board chair gave a brief outline of how the new district board will proceed in taking over Reedy Creek assets.

The board will be reviewing how the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, formally the Reedy Creek Improvement District, operates to “ensure the district finally is in a position to be more equitable and better serve the citizens of Florida, and Osceola and Orange counties. Nothing is off the table,” Chair Martin Garcia said during April 19’s board meeting.

The board fired off its first salvo in consolidating its power by terminating all planning and zoning board members and appointing the Board of Supervisors as the local planning agency for the district. This move as the board is moving to eliminate any influence the Walt Disney Company has in the district.

A quick review: Then Walt Disney CEO Bob Chapek came out against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill last year. DeSantis, who did not like being called out by one of the state’s largest employers, decided to eliminate the Reedy Creek Improvement District (which was created when Disney came to the state more than 50 years ago and was run by Disney appointees) and has had the state take control over the public board, which is primarily responsible for the development, maintaining roads and infrastructure. The RCID, months before the new board went into effect, passed a 30-year development agreement with Disney with some restrictive covenants, effectively neutering the state’s takeover. DeSantis appointed a new board filled with political and social conservative allies. The board is saying that the agreement is illegal and, on April 26, plans to vote on an amendment saying the development agreement is null and void. In the meantime, new board is taking control of the district and implementing various changes.

During the April 19 meeting, Garcia said there are numerous things the board has planned for the district to evaluate and the list will grow. He mentioned the following:

1. Creating new zoning to build affordable and workforce housing. Daniel Langley, the board’s general counsel, mentioned the district owns about 193 acres of land on Hartzog Road near Route 429 and Western Way as an example of where affordable housing could go. The land is now used as a RIB, a rapid infiltration basin, where reclaimed water and excessive stormwater are disposed of to recharge the aquifer system. Langley said there are other lands on the property that could be used as a RIB. The general counsel later mentioned the district also has eminent domain powers if there is a need to go beyond what the district owns.

2. Creating voting rights for future residents in housing built on district land.

3. Developing better transportation.

4. Reducing the carbon footprint.

5. Aligning the district’s interests to join Osceola and Orange counties to fight Disney’s lawsuits relating to taxes. According to Langley, there are over 90 pending lawsuits by Disney fighting the valuation of some of the property. In the event Disney wins, the taxing districts would have to repay Disney. Langley brought up a letter from Orlando schools saying that could mean losing $52 million and have a large impact on the school district.

6. Evaluate regulating Disney like every other business in Central Florida. During the meeting, the board had a number of state agencies, including the DOT and the Department of Health, talk about how Disney polices itself on certain things and how they would now be able to take over, including pool inspections.

7. Charging utility rates that are not controlled by Disney. Disney-provided services to the district, including help running the utilities and, in doing so, helped set the rates, according to the district.

8. Provide more transparency.

9. Implement new accounting standards.

10. Increase district revenues. This could mean increasing the millage rates to landowners.

11. Evaluate how to monetize the assets of the district to pay off debts.General Counsel Langley