03 & 13
Public Comment
From:kathy tran <mimozat4@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday,
To:Public Comment; Theresa Bass; kathy tran; Council
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] Re: Regarding item #3 and #13 on agenda meeting September 27, 2022
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open
attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
Dear Mayor Pro Tem and City Council Members,
Back on April 12, 2022, my neighbors and I stood in front of you to ask for the approval to request
the Anaheim Lodge motel to construct an 8-foot-high block wall which abuts the residential properties
along the western property line (Hayward. There were six Ayes and one abstention (Council Diaz).
" We get the wall.... We get the wall....; We finally LEGALLY get the wall! An 8-foot block wall is
legally recorded in Resolution No 2022-035 and DEV 2022-00007. That is exactly what I shouted out
to all my neighbors, specially who live directly behind this motel and have been negatively impacted
for decades.
As of today, the City plans to acquire the Anaheim Lodge under Anaheim’s Housing Authority.
While I am 100% supportive of the city’s efforts to purchase this dilapidated property, there is still
active open code case (COD2022-02383) that has not been resolved- which is the requirement to
build an 8-foot block wall along the western property line. Even though the Mayor and Councils
Members approved for this block wall six months ago, there is still NO Wall. There is no evidence that
the property owners have made any attempt to comply with the requirement that has been set forth
by this city and supported by this council.
The CUP of the Anaheim Lodge motel transfers with the land, therefore, the Anaheim Housing
Authority should be fully responsible to build an 8-foot block wall as required under the terms of the
CUP.
If the purchase of this property was a private transaction, wouldn’t the city require the new buyer to
abide by the terms of the CUP?
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If the Mayor Pro Tem and Council Members desire to approve item 3 and 13 on the agenda, then
the city carries the full responsibility to comply with the current CUP to build an 8-foot block wall as
approved " Yes" 6-0 on April 12, 2022.
Allow me to back track and share with you the history of the wall.
On, September 21,1981, the Anaheim City Planning Commission granted the property 837 S
Beach Blvd to re-classify from the Residential/ Agricultural Zone to a Commercial Zone upon the
conditions which to be a prerequisite to preserve the safety and general welfare of the residents of
the City. According to Resolution No. PC81-200, item #6 stated: " that a 6-foot-high masonry block
wall shall be constructed (from the highest point of grade) along the west property line."
For some reason, the City staffs had approved the incorrect height which only 4.5-foot-high
masonry wall from the highest point of grade instead of the 6-foot requirement per Resolution No. PC
81-200 and has allowed the property to operate out of compliance since. Due to that critical mistake,
the safety and the quality of our life of those of us that reside near the Anaheim Lodge has
deteriorated.
I brought our complaints regarding trespassing, burglaries, invasion of privacy and unsafe in our
own back yard to the city back in 2010. I’ve had meetings with all City Officials and multiple City
Department heads, pleading for help and nothing changed until April 12, 2022.
I understand that the City has taken a huge step forward to protect us by approving an 8 foot block
wall, there are three (3) options that this council can consider prior to deciding to acquire the Anaheim
Lodge motel:
1) Enforce the Anaheim Lodge motel owner to comply to the Open Active Code case prior to
the sale of the property. The current Anaheim Lodge owner brought this property in July 24, 2014 in
the amount $2,780,00 dollars and now he plans to sale for $7,600,000 dollars. With the earning profit
of $4,820,000 in the past 8 years, i believe he can afford to build the wall.
2) The City can suggest the Anaheim Housing Authority should subtract/deduct the cost to
build an 8-foot block wall off the final sales price, therefore the new owner, Anaheim Housing
Authority can use that fund to build the wall.
3) The City funds to build the wall as required under the CUP. If the City can waive a quarter
of a million dollars of TOT tax owed by Cover Wagon Motel, then the City can afford to build this 8-
foot block wall, which has been voted on and promised to us, the residents in West Anaheim.
This year marks a 13-year battle of fighting the city and the Anaheim Lodge of the wall issue. This
error was caused by a member of city staff back in 1981. And in 2014, when the property changed to
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new owner, Mr. Mahendra Ahir, the City staffs recognized the violation of the height of the wall, but
again decided not to enforce a interpretation of the CUP's block wall height requirement. I am
extremely tired, and I hope the Mayor Pro Tem and Council Members will honor your vote from April
12, 2022 and continue support our request to provide an 8-foot block wall Via those three options
above.
Making the decision to approve the acquisition of the Anaheim Lodge Motel will strongly reflect
your leadership, your integrity, your commitment, your honesty, your courage, and your confidence to
stand up for the right of your constituents. However, the wall is an equally important issue. If history is
any indication, the purchase of this motel will not solve the problems along the Boulevard overnight.
One only needs to look at the purchases of the Lyndy’s motel or Americana Motel or Silver Moon to
see that the renovation of these locations will takes YEARS. Am I expected to continually endure the
ramifications of the crime along Beach Blvd. merely because the city will now own the property?
Please consider and accept my request to help improve the safety and quality of life for the residents
who live directly behind this motel.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kathy Tran
Resident who lives directly behind the Anaheim Lodge motel.
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