General (14)Date:3/22/2025 5:01:52 PM
From:"Keith Olesen"
To:
"Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anaheim.net, "Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.ne t, "Natalie Meeks"
NMeeks@anaheim.net, "Norma C. Kurtz" NKurtz@anaheim.net, "Ryan Balius" RBalius@anaheim.net, "Carlos A.
Leon" CLeon@anaheim.net, "Kristen Maahs" KMaahs@anaheim.net
Cc:"Jim Vanderpool" JVanderpool@anaheim.net, "Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim.net
Subject:[EXTERNAL] General Plan
Attachment:HPC GP Letter.pdf;
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachme nts unle ss you recognize the
sender and are expecting the message.
Dear Mayor and Anaheim City Counc il Members;
My name is Keith Olesen. I’m a member of the Historic Preservation Committee and a 39 year resident of the dow ntow n area of Anaheim.
I’m writing to repeat and support the information sent to you by the HPC (letter attac hed) regarding the upc oming General Plan reports (item 4 on your
c onsent c alendar for March 25,2025 meeting).
The letter c ontains a number of excellent points regarding the General Plan as applied to the downtow n area, primarily the 4 historic distric ts rec ognized by
the city. Inc reasing the density in these areas w ill result in irreparable damage to the fabric of the community, the integrity of these neighborhoods, and the
quality of life for residents. In addition it w ould be a repeat of an error made in the 1970’s from whic h the neighborhoods have never c ompletely rec overed
and w hich was reversed, muc h to the ongoing benefit of the area, in the late 1980’s, and followed by the es tablishment of the first historic district in
1997.
As stated in the HPC letter, this area c annot handle the increase in density that w ould result from the revis ed General Plan. The infrastructure in these
distric ts is the oldest in the city, w ith insufficient sew age, electric al pow er, and public safety delivery s ystems . Inc reased densities w ill, simply put,
overwhelm the infrastruc ture in these neighborhoods. It is also important to note, again as mentioned in the attac hed letter, the 4 existing historic districts
c ombined total less than 2 square miles, or approximately 4% of the c ity’s 51 square miles. Exempting these 4 dis tric ts from the increased densities
proposed w ould have a major positive impact on the continuing improvement of these neighborhoods w ithout negatively impac ting the overall goal of the
revision of the plan.
Thank you for your c onsideration. If any one would like to individually meet and disc uss this issue further w ith me, w ith a small group of dow ntow n
residents (3 to 4 residents maximum), or with the Historic Preservation Committee as a w hole, I’d be happy to c oordinate suc h a disc ussion and can work
around your individual sc hedule.
Thank you.
Keith Olesen
March 21, 2025
Dear Honorable Mayor and Anaheim City Council Members,
We, the undersigned residents and members of the historic preservation committee, are writing to express our deep
concerns regarding the proposed rezoning of properties in Downtown Anaheim. We believe that this rezoning, as it
currently stands, poses a significant threat to the historical integrity of our community and the overall quality of life for
its residents.
Downtown Anaheim boasts a rich history, with many structures dating back over a century. These buildings are not
merely relics of the past; they are tangible links to our heritage, contributing to the unique character and charm of our
neighborhood. The proposed rezoning, with its focus on increased density, raises the alarming prospect of these
historic structures being demolished to make way for new development.
We understand the need for growth and development within the city. However, we believe that this growth should not
come at the expense of our history and community identity. The increased density resulting from the rezoning will
exacerbate existing challenges, such as traffic congestion and strain on public resources, further diminishing the
quality of life for residents in an already densely populated area.
Furthermore, we wish to emphasize that the older part of Anaheim, including our historic districts, has traditionally
served as a source of comparatively affordable housing within the city, particularly for first-time buyers. While
restoration efforts have elevated property values in recent years, this historical role underscores the importance of
respecting the area's existing density.
To put this request in perspective, it is valuable to note that the City of Anaheim spans just under 51 square miles
(50.88 square miles), while all four historic districts combined encompass approximately 2 square miles, or roughly
4% of the total city area. Imposing a disproportionate increase in density on this small area will have a demonstrably
negative impact on the quality of life of its residents. A significant portion of this negative impact will stem from the
area's aging infrastructure, including inadequate and outdated sewage and power systems, police and fire services,
and public roads. Existing systems, the oldest in the city, are already stretched to their limits.
Therefore, we respectfully request that the City Council consider the following:
• Implement Stringent Historic Preservation Guidelines: First, before any rezoning changes are implemented,
we urge the council to establish clear and robust guidelines that protect historically significant structures and
neighborhoods from demolition or incompatible developments. In addition the city’s 4 recognized Historic
Districts should be excluded from this rezoning entirely.
• Require Historic Impact Assessments: Mandate that developers conduct thorough historic impact
assessments before any demolition or new construction is approved in the downtown area.
• Incentivize Historic Preservation: Explore and implement programs that incentivize the preservation and
restoration of historic buildings, such as tax credits or grants, and the expansion of the city’s existing Mills
Act program.
• Community Engagement: Foster a transparent and inclusive process that actively engages residents and
stakeholders in the development and implementation of rezoning plans.
• Density Considerations: Reevaluate the proposed density increases to ensure they are sustainable and do
not negatively impact the existing community fabric.
We believe that a balanced approach, one that respects our history while accommodating responsible growth, is
essential for the long-term well-being of our community. We urge the City Council to prioritize the preservation of our
historic heritage and the quality of life for all Anaheim residents.
We appreciate your attention to this critical matter and look forward to a constructive dialogue.
Sincerely,
Meghan Shigo
Anaheim Historic Preservation Committee