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Susana Barrios
From:Sheri Gray <catloversheri@sbcglobal.net>
Sent:Tuesday,
To:Public Comment
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] SALT Development Project
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The property was purchased by SALT development with their full knowledge of the single-family building zoning. PERIOD!
However, it seems that an underhanded promise was made to SALT by somebody in the city, possibly our former mayor,
that the zoning would be changed with a little kickback. Underhanded promises should not be honored or
entertained. The people of Anaheim rely on honesty from our officials.
This area was designed for single family homes, which according to a recent article in the OC Register, single-family
homes are in demand. This fact is seen in District 6, a single family home goes on the market and it is immediately sold
for above asking price. Single-family homes are needed and are in-demand, and District 6 is the area that was
designated to accommodate that need.
There is 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. This new project is in a
perfect location, close to the event centers, and close to the downtown area.
There is another project that is being proposed 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.
These two new projects (the OC Vibe and the Festival center), where the multi-family units are affordable, will be the
desired rentals.
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. They are not more than 3-4 levels.
The SALT developers are not building an apartment complex, they are building a residential hotel for short term stays.
This structure with its 7-8 stories, meeting rooms, and all the other amenities they propose is a “residential hotel” where
corporations have conferences and the employees stay at the facility for the week of the conference. Yes, there might
also be some long term “apartment” rentals as well, and these will house multiple tenants in each apartment unit.
The monthly rent they propose will be unattainable by one person. Each apartment will need two or more people to afford
the rent. With the extra people in each apartment, there will be extra vehicles for each residence.
There is not enough parking allocated to accommodate the extra vehicles per rental unit.
Where will they park their cars?
On Santa Ana Canyon Road?
Down the street on the side streets off of Santa Ana Canyon?
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In the green space that SALT has promised to maintain as open space?
At the last meeting with the planning commission, the SALT associate created an imaginary person named Maria, who
would be living in the apartment structure.
Well, wouldn’t we all like to be Maria?
she gets up and goes for a run,
goes to the gym to work out,
sits in the sauna,
goes upstairs to have a cup of tea, all prior to starting her work day.
She must get up very early, or she starts work about 11:00 a.m.
After work, she goes for happy hour at the lounge in the building (4-5:00 for happy hour). So she works about 4-5 hours
per day, how does she afford the rent? She has roommates in her studio apartment to share the rent.
The SALT associate said that Maria would not have a vehicle, she would just call up the Tesla dealer to rent a vehicle
when needed.
Really? Each time she wants to go to Festival center to shop, to a restaurant to meet friends, to a concert, or to visit her
parents, she would need to rent a Tesla.
This is not Utah, we do not have a TRAX system and the nearest bus stop is 2 miles up the hill from the project.
People in Southern California drive their own cars. It is a way of life here, a car is a necessity, not a luxury, and every
tenant will own a car. Where will they park?
In the SALT fictional world, the residents will work from home, and rarely ever leave the complex, because they will have
everything there for them. In the past few years, employers have been returning their employees to the work location, if
not every day, a few days a week. Yes, they will need a car to get there. This is seen from the daily morning and evening
traffic on the 91 freeway. The traffic is back to pre-pandemic capacity going to and from the Riverside, Los Angeles and
Irvine areas.
In reality, Maria would live in the affordable multi-family homes in the festival center, where there is adequate parking,
affordable rent, and the ability to walk to Vons, Target, Nordstrom Rack, or any of the other retail spots and restaurants.
She will also be able to go the gym next door, and take a run in the hills above the project. All of this while saving money
to someday purchase the American dream of a home. Or, if she enjoys a more robust area, she could live in the OC Vibe
affordable multi-family homes and be close to the action within the area.
My new young neighbors, who bought the house next to me, lived with their parents for 2 years in order to save the
money to purchase their first home. They bought the small home and have made many updates to the home prior to
moving in, because they are proud of their new home. A home that allows their son to play in a backyard.
The commercial site for this project is another fantasy. There are many different types of available office, retail, restaurant,
and industrial sites in the area that need to be filled. Why build more commercial units that will remain unfilled?
The SALT developers have promised to donate money to the city to get this re-zoning accomplished. Don’t be persuaded
by this. They say they will improve the access to Deer Canyon Park and donate green space, again, don’t be persuaded.
They will do anything to line their pockets.
The developers have also made the threat of “builder’s remedy” if they don’t get their way. Builders remedy is only if there
is not adequate housing in the city. According to the Planning and Building site, there is an 81% unit surplus of
lower income dwelling units, a 251% unit surplus of moderate income dwelling units, a 5% unit surplus of above
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moderate income dwelling units with a total of 74% of overall unit surplus of Regional Housing Needs
Assessment Allocation (RHNA). So, their threat of “builders remedy” is an empty threat, because the city has met
the RHNA needs.
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At the Planning Commission meeting on September 30, it was disheartening 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. I don’t think she understands her role in property planning, it is not a place for vindictiveness, but a place for
good common sense for the future of each district. Building in a district needs to be planned for the good of the area. This
project is not right for the area, because it doesn’t meet the needs of the district and the city. Single family homes would
meet the needs of the city and the community. Anaheim is one city, and we should look out for each other. Each district is
unique and needs to be treated as such.
Please don’t allow this underhanded development company to sway you with their lies, manipulations, and false promises
in order for them to fill their pockets and then leave Anaheim in the dust. They don’t care, but Anaheim does!
I ask you to vote no for this project, it is not right for Anaheim.
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