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Date:3/2/2026 4:27:14 PM
From:"Ryan Monahan"
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 Apartments!
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Dear Madam Mayor & Members of the City Council.
I urge you to vote "No" on the proposed apartment development at the Anaheim Hills Festival Center. As a resident of this community, I'm not
speaking as just a matter of neighborhood preference; it is a critical matter of public safety.
I was present during the Canyon 2 Fire, and the experience remains vivid. I remember the feeling of being trapped as traffic came to a complete
standstill for over an hour. Seeing the smoke approach while being unable to move was terrifying. Because the roads were entirely blocked, we
could not have evacuated safely had the situation worsened.
Furthermore, I speak from a place of professional experience. As a former firefighter in another community, I know firsthand how vital it is for
residents to be able to evacuate safely and efficiently. Minutes and seconds are the difference between life and death in a fast-moving fire. We saw
this reality play out tragically in Altadena during the Eaton Fire last year. Altadena shares a very similar foothill terrain to our own, and the
speed of that destruction was breathtaking—it moved so fast that 19 people lost their lives, many of whom simply couldn't get out in time.
The project reports suggest this development would "only" add roughly 7 minutes to evacuation times. However, as the disaster in Altadena
proved, when you are already stuck with an advancing fire, 7 minutes is not a "minor delay"—it is a lifetime. Adding over a thousand new residents
to our existing, limited escape routes—which already fail under pressure—is a dangerous oversight.
While I understand the city’s need for housing, it should never come at the cost of human life. We do not have "secret" exits out of the Hills; we all
rely on the same few lanes. Please prioritize the safety of the people who already live and pay taxes here over new development.
Sincerely,
Ryan Monahan