New Reedy Creek Board May Introduce ‘Superior Authority’ to ‘One Up’ Disney

According to an article published in the Orlando Business Journal Tuesday afternoon, it appears that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) is ready to make its next move in the war between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

This comes less than a week after it was discovered that Disney put Developer Agreements into place one day prior to the government’s takeover of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. As we learned last week, DeSantis launched an investigation and stated during a presentation at a Michigan college that he would, “…void anything Disney did on the way out the door.”

OBJ reportedly received documentation, dubbed “Resolution No. 639”, which “appears to be designed to give the district ‘superior authority’ over comprehensive planning, zoning, land development regulations, environmental protection regulations, platting and subdivision regulations and more for the district, including in the cities of Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake — where Walt Disney World is located.”

Additionally, this “resolution” seems to “do away with the district’s planning board and replaces it with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board as the ‘final decision-making authority’ with ‘no further administrative appeal … available.'”

Apparently, this document is dated April 19, 2023, supposedly suggesting that the matter might be discussed at the next CFTOD meeting, which is scheduled on the same date, according to the notice below.

We want to note that OBJ states, “officials with Reedy Creek Improvement District could not be reached to verify the documents” and that one hand-selected member of the new CFTOD, Brian Aungst Jr., “told OBJ he had not seen the document and declined to comment until the next public meeting on April 19.”

Listed below are additional details defined by this new “resolution.”

• The cities of Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake shall not adopt land development regulations that are less stringent than or in conflict with the district’s land development regulations.
• Neither city shall accept applications for, consider for approval or issue any development orders or development permits, or approve or execute any development agreement regarding any development projects.
• Should the cities adopt more stringent comprehensive plan goals, objectives or policies or land development regulations, the district will consider and evaluate such matters in the processing, review, evaluation, commenting on and issuance of development orders pertaining to proposed development within such municipalities, if applicable.
• Public notice requirements are updated for any amendment to the land development regulation (at least 10 days before the public hearing) and any amendments to the cities of Lake Buena Vista or Bay Lake land development regulations (at least 60 days before the first reading and public hearing), as well as inform the district of the time, date and place of readings and public hearings.

Orlando Business Journal