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Susana Barrios
From:Colleen Hauk <cahauk13@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, October
To:Public Comment
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] Deer Canyon Development
Attachments:Letter Deer Canyon Oct 29 2024.pdf
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To Whom It May Concern:
As a newly engaged couple in October of 2002, my husband, Matt, and I purchased our first home
together in Anaheim Hills. Matt moved here as a child and I still remember his excitement driving me
through all of the neighborhoods that he remembered from childhood as we searched for our forever
home. 22 years and three kids later, we are still here!
In 2008, when I was pregnant with our youngest of three children, we experienced our first wildfire and
home evacuation. But the fires in 2017 scared us most! It wasn’t because we had to evacuate, it was
because of the chaos and traffic that kept us from knowing if we would ever even make it to our home.
We live at which is part of the homes that run parallel between Santa Ana
Canyon Road and the 91 freeway, in between Eucalyptus Drive and Solomon Drive. A 15+ foot brick wall
separates us from the freeway, so the only way out of our neighborhood is via Santa Ana Canyon Road.
But on the day of this fire, Matt could hardly make it back to our home from the nearby gas station. And
while I was able to get from Irvine to Crescent Elementary to pick up our children, I was unable to get us
to our home. And it was not because the fire department blocked the route, it was the sheer volume of
automobiles on Santa Ana Canyon Road.
Just this past Friday, October 25, at 5:15pm, this is what I encountered as I was traveling from my home
to the Festival Shopping Center:
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This is simply traffic on a Friday evening!
Now imagine what this looks like during a fire evacuation!
Then imagine what this looks like during a fire evacuation with an additional 1,200 people and 1,000 cars
if the Deer Canyon development were to move forward!
Anaheim Hills is a wildfire prone area and I fear for my family’s safety, even before 1,000 more cars
would be in the area, much less after!
I love our home, I love our neighbors, I love our community, and I hope the City of Anaheim makes the
right decision to care for the safety of its citizens by voting against the Deer Canyon Development.
Sincerely,
Colleen Hauk
P.S. Not only has my husband Matt and his mom lived in this community for over 45 years, we are also
highly involved. Matt is the Branch Manager of the Century 21 in Anaheim Hills and I’ve been coaching
community members through their fitness journey for over 15 years at the 24-Hour Fitness in Anaheim
Hills. In addition, I currently serve as Vice President of the Canyon HS Girls Lacrosse Booster Club.
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Not only did my husband attend Crescent Elementary, El Rancho, and graduate from Canyon High
School, all three of our children have enjoyed their elementary schools in the area, also attended El
Rancho Junior High, and two have graduated from with our youngest on her way as a current
Sophomore. They’ve participated in Anaheim Hills Little League, Canyon Hills Soccer, and
School Lacrosse.
With all of the money and dedication we’ve given to businesses, schools and taxes in Anaheim Hills for
22 years, again, I hope the City of Anaheim makes the right decision to care for the safety of its citizens by
voting against the Deer Canyon Development.
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