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Date:2/2/2026 4:40:38 PM
From:"Tim Olaerts"
To:
"Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim.net, "Ashleigh Aitken" AAitken@anahe im.ne t, "Carlos A. Leon"
CLeon@anaheim.net, "Ryan Balius" RBalius@anaheim.net, "Natalie Rubalcava" NRubalcava@anahe im.net, "Norma
C. Kurtz" NKurtz@anaheim.net, "Kristen Maahs" KMaahs@anaheim.net, "Natalie Meeks" NMe e ks@anaheim.net
Subject:[EXTERNAL] Vote NO on the Festival Center Development
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sender and are expecting the message.
Dear Council Member,
I am writing to you as a concerned resident of the Old Bridge community who has lived in Anaheim Hills for over 15 year. This community is our
home, and like many long-time residents, I am deeply worried about the safety implications of the proposed apartment development at the
Anaheim Hills Festival Center. I respectfully ask that you please vote “No” on this project.
I lived here during the Canyon Fire 2 in 2017, and that experience is something I will never forget—especially as a parent. I remember sitting in my
car with traffic completely at a standstill, watching the smoke get closer, unable to move for over an hour. At the time, I kept thinking about how I
would protect my children if the fire reached us before we could escape. It wasn’t just inconvenience or frustration—it was fear.
The proposal to add hundreds of new apartments and more than a thousand additional residents to the same limited evacuation routes is alarming.
Those of us who live here know there are no alternative roads out of the Hills during an emergency. Everyone funnels into the same few lanes,
which already become gridlocked during evacuations. Project reports suggesting that evacuation times would increase by “only” seven minutes fail
to reflect the reality of these situations. When fires are approaching and families are trapped in traffic for hours, seven minutes can make the
difference between safety and disaster.
I understand the city’s need for housing, but it should not come at the expense of public safety—especially in a high fire-risk area with known
evacuation challenges. As a parent, I cannot support a development that makes it harder for families to get out safely during an emergency.
Please prioritize the safety of the residents who already live, work, raise families, and pay taxes in Anaheim Hills. I urge you to vote No on the
Shea/Festival Center apartment project.
Sincerely,
Tim Olaerts