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Susana Barrios
From:April Hughes <ahughes1018@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, October
To:Public Comment
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] Opposition To Deer Canyon
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Greetings,
I am writing this letter in hopes that some logic will address these issues.
When SALT purchased first this land in 2018, it was zoned for single family homes. That is what the
community of Anaheim needs. When any single family home goes on the market it sells within 3/4
days or sooner. There is in fact a shortage of single family homes. What this area does NOT need is
a multi family large apartment complex. It is neither affordable or attainable by most individuals in this
area. There is no need for a luxury 8 story, 498 apartments in the Deer Canyon Reserve. There is not
enough parking, there are no bus routes or stops, and Santa Ana Canyon Road is not equipped to
handle that traffic load as seen on almost any given morning or afternoon at commute times.
Furthermore if for any reason the 91 freeway slows or is stopped, Santa Ana Canyon Road is a
parking lot. Not to mention the danger of fire or earthquakes in this area. In fact, the staff of the
Anaheim Planning Commission urged the planning commission to vote NO as did the Police and Fire
Departments!!.
The developments at the Anaheim Hills Festival Center that will add over 464 affordable multi-family
homes, retail space, restaurants, and adequate parking. This project is to revitalize the existing center
and is in an appropriate, existing retail location.It will have enough parking and not overtly stress the
street congestion. Also a new project, OC Vibe, near the Honda Center, which will add over 2,000
affordable multi-family homes, restaurants, retail, event venues, green space, adequate parking, and
public transportation. Furthermore, as stated in the Anaheim Planning and Building report, " the entire
city of Anaheim which states that the Regional Housing Needs Assessment process, mandated by
law to provide adequate housing for all income levels, HAS BEEN MET. In fact, the city has a 74%
unit SURPLUS. As Anaheim has no city housing deficit, the statement in DEIR 4.10-16 that "The
project would assist the City in achieving their Above Average Income housing units for the 6th RHNA
cycle." is irrelevant. (Draft 2021-2029 Housing Element (Revised May 2024), “Appendix B: Adequate
Sites Analysis page B-4 Revised July 2024”)
District 6 has many senior apartments, townhomes, and multi-family homes within the area. These
homes have blended into the neighborhood and are a part of the community. The structures are not
more than 3-4 levels high.
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At the Planning Commission meeting on September 30, it was extremely upsetting to hear
Commissioner Lucille Kring make such unprofessional and disparaging remarks about a residential
district within the city that she has been appointed to represent. In fact, she should not be able to vote
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on this matter considering the unprofessional and unethical remarks about the citizens she is to be
protecting.
Also, the reported increase of 11 minutes to evacuate from this area if the SALT project was built is a
pipe dream, and not factual ( even the fire dept agreed during the planning commission mtg ). Right
now its almost impossible to turn left on Weir canyon from Santa Ana Canyon road to get onto to fwy
or drive to Costco from 4pm-7pm most week days. As witnessed on May 24th, a single car standoff
with the police on the 91 fwy caused a complete shut down of Anaheim Hills for more than 6 hours
strangling our overburden streets. Many will report being in dead lock traffic on Santa Ana canyon
road and the surrounding area streets of Anaheim Hills. And many residents will testify how whenever
there is traffic on the 91 fwy, Santa Ana canyon becomes a war zone with cranky and angry drivers
trying to get ahead of the traffic on the freeway.
Finally the SALT developers are unhanded and misrepresent themselves. They have placed
numerous articles in the local newspapers and online in stories like on the “Buzz” representing
themselves as part of the group to “Save Deer Canyon “. I know this seems like not a huge deal to
your council. But to me and many of my fellow residents it shows that the SALT developers tell half
truths and at the core will say or do anything to get their huge buildings built. They think that being
dishonest and telling white lies is okay, but it demonstrates to the core who they are. They want to
build this huge monstrosity that will crush our community in traffic, overuse our precious supply of
water, electricity, kill off wild life and move on after making huge profits to their next victims. They lack
integrity, honesty, and character, and those values still exist in Anaheim.
I implore you to be Vote No on the SALT project.
Sincerely,
Thomas and April Hughes
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