31 (028)
Susana Barrios
From: Chip Ahlswede <
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2024 12:19 PM
To: Theresa Bass <TBass@anaheim.net>
Cc: Peter Whittingham <peter@whittinghampaa.com>; Ethan Bedingfield <ethan.bedingfield@saltdev.com>; David
Cordero <cordero@aaoc.com>
Subject: \[EXTERNAL\] Letter of Support for the SALT project in Deer Canyon
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Clerk Bass:
A?ached is a le?er of support from the Apartment Associa?on of Orange County for the proposed SALT project in Deer
Canyon coming to council for the next city council mee?ng.
We thank you for your assistance in including this le?er in the public record, and for sharing with the mayor and
members of the council.
Should you have any ques?ons, please feel free to reach out.
Sincerely,
Chip Ahlswede
Vice President of External Affairs
Apartment Associa?on of Orange County . Protec?ng the rental housing industry since 1961!
e. chip@aaoc.com | t. (714) 245-9500 x. 1416
w. www.aaoc.com | Address 1601 E. Orangewood Ave., Suite 125, Anaheim, CA 92805
1
www.AAOC.com
October 24, 2024
Mayor Ashley Aitken and Anaheim City Council
City of Anaheim
200 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92805
Re: Support for Hills Preserve Project (Agenda Item #31)
Mayor Aitken and Council Members,
The Apartment Association of Orange County (AAOC) is the professional trade association
representing more than 2,000 multi-family housing providers and other industry professionals in
Orange and Riverside Counties. Since 1961, the association has worked to establish and maintain
strong relationships with the cities that it represents, as well as encourage a healthy and responsive
housing market.
While AAOC does not typically speak out on specific residential proposals, the significant efforts of
Salt Development to not only meaningfully address the need for additional housing in Anaheim but
to also propose a project uniquely designed as a complement to the Anaheim Hills community is
notable and worthy of acknowledgement and support.
Meeting the needs of land conservation, accommodating housing demand, and complying with state
housing mandates poses a challenge for any city. However, the nearly 500 units proposed by Salt
Development for its Hills Preserve project will do just that for the city of Anaheim. Compared to other
developments of comparable size, the Hills Preserve project will extend housing opportunities to a
similar number of people and preserve over 50 acres of surrounding open space.
As you are aware, providing adequate parkland for community use is another major challenge for
cities – including Anaheim. The proposed Hills Preserve project, again, will meet a major need of the
city by ensuring broad public access to Deer Canyon Park. While the park has technically been open
for years, it has remained practically inaccessible to the public at large due to its lengthy setback
from Santa Ana Canyon Road. The Hills Preserve project will result in roadway access to the park
being created so that this community asset can be enjoyed by residents from across Anaheim.
Sadly, California’s housing crisis has been exacerbated by the resistance of community members to
support housing near where they live. Unfortunately, this resistance creates a climate that pits
residents against residents, and residents against city officials, resulting in conflicts between city
compliance with state housing requirements and its ability to maintain local control over housing
approvals. The state’s solution to this problem is to take away local control. Each residential project
denial moves Anaheim one denial closer to the state imposing its will on the city and its residents.
_________________________________________
1601 E. Orangewood Avenue, Suite 125
Anaheim CA 92805
(714) 245-9500
www.AAOC.com
When a proposed residential project helps a city meet its state-mandated Regional Housing Needs
Assessment, provides significant preservation of open space or creates a community benefit, and
adequately plans and mitigates for issues of concern, it is a project that AAOC believes is worthy of
favorable consideration and support. The Hills Preserve is a project that meets these standards, and
AAOC encourages favorable consideration and support by the Anaheim City Council.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on this worthy project which will benefit the city
and its residents for years to come.
Sincerely,
David Cordero
Executive Director