31 (294)
Susana Barrios
From: Lawrence Harrison <
Date: October 24, 2024 at 9:35:20 AM PDT
To: Ashleigh Aitken <AAitken@anaheim.net>
Cc: "Heather R. Allen" <HAllen@anaheim.net>
Subject: \[EXTERNAL\] Proposed Deer Canyon development
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To the Hon. Mayor Aiken, Ms. Allen, and Hon. Council Member Meeks:
My name is Dr. Lawrence Harrison. I have been an Anaheim Hills resident since 1986.
The Planning Commission recently approved sending a proposal by the Salt Corporation to
do a major development in Deer Canyon to the City Council for further evaluation. The
Planning Commission made this decision despite overwhelming opposition to the
proposed development by those who would be most affected – the residents of Anaheim
themselves.
The proposed development would be in the middle of what is a box canyon that is at
extremely high risk for fire. They want to build a huge structure that would encompass
approximately 500 apartments, as well as restaurants, a bar, and a bowling alley. They also
want to build a strip mall and several individual homes within this canyon. Yet there will be
only one road into and out of this development. The Anaheim Fire Chief himself pointed out
that when a disaster hits, no matter how much planning goes into massive evacuations, it
nearly always devolves into chaos. Assuming full occupancy, in the event of a rapidly
moving brushfire, there could be over 1500 people within this fairly small area, all trying to
leave via a single road. At the same time, fire department, and emergency personnel and
equipment would be trying to enter via the same road.
The developers claim that with a retaining wall and using fire resistant materials, that there
is a little risk of the main building catching fire, and that residents could shelter in place.
You know, a turkey or a brisket can cook in an oven without being directly exposed to
flames.
There is already significant traffic on Santa Ana Canyon Road and Weir Canyon Road. A
rapidly moving fire fueled by Santa Ana winds doesn’t care what time it is. If it happens at 4
or 5 pm on a weekday, there’s already near gridlock in this area. And they’re proposing
having the evacuation route going eastward on Santa Anaheim Canyon road - in other
words, directly into the fire.
I am hoping you will make the correct and courageous choice to deny the Salt Corporation
from ripping up a pristine area of Southern California chaparral and exposing potentially
thousands of people (and their beloved pets) to a horrendous death by fire. We don’t need
this development, we don’t want this development, and you don’t want to be the ones
responsible for another Lahaina or Paradise.
Thank you for your attention.
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Lawrence Harrison, MD
Sent from my iPhone
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