10 (136)You don't often get email from carolfite@sbcglobal.net. Learn why this is important
Date:3/1/2026 5:37:13 AM
From:"Carol Fite" carolfite@sbcglobal.net
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] Subject: Please vote NO on the Shea/Festival Center apartme nts – It's a safe ty issue
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 Council Member,
Being an Anaheim Hills resident since 1985, I have experienced several fires and evacuations. Even without a fire, getting out of Anaheim Hills is
difficult. I know the City is already aware of this traffic nightmare.... Last year the City installed a large digital sign at the corner of Canyon
Vista Drive and Weir Canyon. This was an effort to deter a shortcut of workday traffic from the 55 Freeway going across Serrano Avenue from
cutting through residential neighborhoods (Larkwood Street) to get a faster route to the 91 freeway. Traffic on a regular basis using this shortcut
resulted in backed up traffic on Serrano, down Weir Canyon to the 91 freeway.
I am writing to you to ask you to please vote "No" on the proposed apartments at the Anaheim Hills Festival Center. I lived here during the
Canyon Fire 2 in 2017, and I will never forget the feeling of being stuck in my car, watching the smoke get closer, and literally not moving for over
an hour. It wasn't just "traffic"—it was a total standstill. The thought of adding hundreds of new apartments and about 1000+ more people to that
exact same escape route is terrifying to those of us who have actually been in that situation.
The reports for this project say that adding these cars will "only" add about 7 minutes to the evacuation time. But when you're already stuck for
three hours and the fire is moving toward you, 7 minutes is a lifetime. We don't have extra roads or "secret" ways out of the Hills; we all end up on
the same few lanes. Adding more people to a neighborhood that is already a bottleneck during a fire just feels like a tragedy waiting to happen. I
have attached links to two of the fires affecting Anaheim Hills and hope this will help you all to recall what we, as Anaheim Hills residents went
through. Please vote NO!
Freeway Complex Fire (11/15/08) - 2008-11-16
Some Canyon Fire 2 Evacuees Return Home
Freeway Complex Fire (11/15/08) - 2008-11-16
Some Canyon Fire 2 Evacuees Return Home
Residents ordered to evacuate during Anaheim Hills wildfire
Thousands Await Status of Their Homes In Anaheim Hills
I understand that the city needs housing, but it shouldn't be built in a place where people are already struggling to get out safely. Please don't make
an existing danger even worse just for a new development. We are asking you to prioritize the lives and safety of the people who already live here
and pay taxes here.
Sincerely,
Carol Fite
393 S. Basil Street
Anaheim, CA 92808
Residents ordered to evacuate during
Anaheim Hills wildfire
Thousands Await Status of Their Homes In
Anaheim Hills