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Date:3/2/2026 9:29:33 AM
From:"Kimberly Cooper"
To:"Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim.net
Subject:[EXTERNAL] Opposition to the Festival project
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sender and are expecting the message.
T o: Ms. Meeks / Anaheim City Council
From: Kim Cooper, Resident of Anaheim Hills
Date: January 26, 2026
Subject: Formal Opposition to the Proposed Housing/Mixed-Use Project at the Festival Center
Dear Ms. Meeks a nd A n a h e i m C i t y Co unci l M e mb e rs ,
I am writing to you as a 36-year resident of Anaheim Hills to express my strong opposition to the proposed high-density housing and mixed-use
project at the Festival Center on Santa Ana Canyon. Having lived in this community for over three decades—previously off Mohler Loop and
currently o f f o f Serrano Avenue and Wildflower—I have witnessed the evolution of our neighborhood from a quiet, rural-suburban retreat into
an area burdened by unsustainable traffic and safety risks.
While I acknowledge the regional need for housing, the proposed location for a project of this density is fundamentally flawed for the following
reasons:
1. Critical Ev acuation and Fire Safe ty Risks
The most pressing concern is public safety. As a survivor of the 2017 wildfires, I know firsthand that our existing infrastructure cannot support the
current population during an emergency. Adding more high-density housing in an area with limited egress routes is not just a logistical hurdle; it is
potentially deadly. The "Salt/Deer Creek" discussions highlighted these same deficiencies. Increasing the population density here without a massive
overhaul of evacuation routes is an unacceptable risk to human life.
2. Traffic Gridlock and Ne ighborhood Infiltration
The traffic in East Anaheim Hills has reached a breaking point. Our residential streets, specifically Serrano Avenue, SAC and Weir Canyon, have
become high-speed bypasses for commuters avoiding the 91 freeway and 241 Toll Road via Waze.
The "U-Turn" Issue: I have observed a dangerous trend where eastbound 91 commuters exit at Weir Canyon, make a U-turn at
Santa Ana Canyon, and re-enter the 91 to exploit the toll lane entry. This maneuver creates a gridlock that allows only 1–2 cars through
the light per cycle, paralyzing Northbound Weir Canyon from Serrano.
Local Impact: For residents, simple tasks like grocery shopping or driving children to practice have become nearly impossible during
peak hours. Adding upwards of 1,000 additional vehicles to this specific node will result in permanent local paralysis.
3. Dev iations from the Maste r Plan
The original Master Plan for this area was designed to maintain a specific character and flow. It is my understanding that Weir Canyon was
intended to be the primary arterial, yet Serrano which is half the number of lanes has been forced to shoulder the burden. This area was never
zoned or intended to accommodate the intensity of a high-density mixed-use development.
Propose d Solutions and Alternative s
Before any further consideration is given to this project, I urge the City Council to investigate the following:
U-Turn Restrictions: Implement a "No U-Turn" sign at Weir Canyon and Santa Ana Canyon (similar to the restrictions on Imperial
Highway) to prevent freeway-bypass maneuvers.
Toll Road Subsidies: Work with the TCA to make the toll road free or discounted during peak hours/emergency events to
discourage neighborhood "cutting."
Infrastructure Review: Re-evaluate the extension of Weir Canyon as originally envisioned in the Master Plan to alleviate the burden
on Serrano or potentially Gypsum as another bypass from Irvine where there are less homes and less congesti on.
We moved here for a quiet, small community. We ask the City Council to fight to protect the integrity of the Hills and, more importantly, the safety
of the families who live here.
Sincerely,
Kim Cooper
Anaheim Hills Resident
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Kim C o o p e r
P o w e r B usine ss S yste ms
(94 9) 2 76 -59 10 o f f ice
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