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31 (149) Susana Barrios From:Julie Ortiz <julie92808@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, To:Public Comment Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] VOTE NO ON DEER CANYON You don't often get email from Learn why this is important 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 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 off Santa Ana Canyon Road raises several critical issues that would negatively impact our community and environment. 1. Unacceptable Increases to 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? 4. Increased Traffic, Noise, and Pollution: a. The proposed development would significantly increase traffic on Santa Ana Canyon Road, directly affecting families who live along or near the route. Currently, the noise and smog from the nearby 91 Freeway already impact residents, and this additional traffic 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 traffic, adding even more pollution. Removing this vegetation would have direct, adverse effects 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 affected by the current shortage a. As high-income units, the impact of this proposed complex on the housing market for low to middle 1 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 traffic, 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, City of Anaheim Resident Like Reply Share 2