31 (143)
Susana Barrios
From:marshallto@sbcglobal.net
Sent: 12:22 PM
To:Public Comment
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] Public Comment - Please Do Not Allow the Proposed Deer Canyon
Apartment Project
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Dear Anaheim City Council,
As an Anaheim homeowner for nearly 30 years, I am writing to oppose the proposed 498-unit Deer Canyon
apartment complex and 6 adjacent luxury homes in Anaheim Hills.
While I recognize the need to address Southern California’s housing challenges, this proposed development on
the 76-acre wilderness area o? Santa Ana Canyon Road raises several critical issues that would negatively impact
our community and environment.
1. Unacceptable Increases Public Safety Risk
a. Wildfire risk is extremely high in Anaheim Hills. Adding the Deer Canyon development will place
additional strain on evacuation routes, fire fighters and police. In the event of a wildfire, is Deer
Canyon deemed defensible by local fire fighters currently?
2. Unsuitability of the Site for Building
a. Unsuitable Soil - The area is known to have unstable soil that is subject to landslides – especially
during heavy rains.
b. Overhead power lines - Will the builders assume liability for the potential medical issues resulting
from proximity of the residences to the high voltage power lines overhead? Have they disclosed
this as a risk? The power lines also continue to be a potential source of accidental wildfire placing
the future residents in an extremely high-risk area.
c. Flood plain - The proposed development is at the mouth of a watershed to the Santa Ana River. A
future flood is a matter of when, not if.
d. Why did developers pass on this land back in the 1970s when the area was first surveyed/zoned?
i. Maybe because the above risks have been avoided in the past by keeping the land
undeveloped.
e. How well has the site been vetted by the builders?
f. Who bears the risks here – the developers, the future residents, or the current residents/taxpayers
that will be stuck with a bill if things go wrong?
3. Increased risk of crime and vandalism in Deer Canyon.
a. It is inevitable that increased utilization will lead to the need for increases surveillance and policing
– how does the builder propose to mitigate this risk?
b. Or compensate current nearby residents for lowering their quality of life?
c.
4. Increased Tra?ic, Noise, and Pollution:
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a. The proposed development would significantly increase tra?ic on Santa Ana Canyon Road, directly
a?ecting families who live along or near the route. Currently, the noise and smog from the nearby
91 Freeway already impact residents, and this additional tra?ic burden would exacerbate the
issue, diminishing our community’s quality of life. Our neighborhoods cannot endure the
worsening conditions that this development would impose.
5. Destruction of Local Wildlife Habitat
a. The Deer Canyon area is home to various wildlife species, whose habitats would be destroyed by
this speculative project. This natural area serves as a vital sanctuary for these species, and the
proposed development would result in the irreversible loss of biodiversity and disrupt the
ecological balance of the region.
6. Loss of Vegetation Benefiting Air Quality
a. The vegetation in Deer Canyon plays an essential role in filtering the air, helping mitigate smog from
the 91 Freeway. When freeway congestion increases, many vehicles, including heavy trucks, exit
on Imperial Highway and take the winding route through our area to bypass tra?ic, adding even
more pollution. Removing this vegetation would have direct, adverse e?ects on air quality for
Anaheim Hills residents.
7. Increased Safety Risks in a High-Risk Zone
a. Adding nearly 500 units in Anaheim Hills raises serious safety concerns. Our area sits near the San
Andreas Fault, increasing the risk of structural failure and significant danger during earthquakes.
Additionally, Anaheim Hills is at high risk for wildfires, and the increased population density would
complicate evacuation during emergencies, putting lives at risk. Developing in a high-risk area like
this is simply not prudent, as it would likely result in complex and potentially hazardous evacuation
scenarios.
8. Does not Increasing the Housing Supply for the market segment most a?ected by the current
shortage
a. As high-income units, the impact of this proposed complex on the housing market for low to middle
income renters and homeowners seems highly questionable.
Considering these concerns, I urge the City Council to reconsider the Deer Canyon apartment project and deny
the development request.
The long-term impacts on tra?ic, environmental stability, air quality, and resident safety in Anaheim Hills should
be prioritized over speculative real estate interests.
Rather than contribute to overdevelopment in a sensitive area, I hope the Council will focus on sustainable, well-
considered solutions that genuinely address the housing crisis without compromising the integrity of our
community. Thank you for considering these comments.
Thank you for your commitment to listening to the voices of Anaheim residents.
Sincerely,
Tom Marshall
City of Anaheim Resident
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