24 (04)You don't often get email from gracebranche@yahoo.com. Learn why this is important
Date:3/23/2026 12:27:43 PM
From:"Grace Branche" gracebranche@yahoo.com
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] Concerns Regarding Traffic and Evacuation Analysis for Festival Project
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sender and are expecting the message.
Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council,
Ahead of your March 24 consideration of the Festival project rehearing, I would like to restate my concerns regarding both traffic conditions and
emergency evacuation planning in Anaheim Hills.
At the core, I am not confident that the current traffic and evacuation analyses accurately reflect present-day conditions. The assumptions being used
appear disconnected from what residents are experiencing on a daily basis.
The former theater at the project site has not operated consistently for some time. Even when it was active, its impact on traffic was limited and largely
local. The proposed development, however, would introduce a continuous and significantly higher volume of traffic into an area that is already heavily
congested.
Having lived here for about five years, I have seen a clear and steady decline in traffic conditions. What may have once been occasional congestion has
become a daily reality. Any analysis that relies on idealized flow patterns or non-peak scenarios does not match the actual conditions residents face.
This issue becomes even more critical when considering emergency evacuation. Wildfires do not occur on a predictable schedule, and an evacuation
during peak traffic hours would present serious risks. While I recognize the City’s efforts to improve emergency readiness since 2017, the “Know Your
Way” approach has not been demonstrated under the most demanding, real-world conditions. Accounts from residents who experienced the Canyon Fire
highlight how quickly evacuation routes can become overwhelmed.
Before moving forward with additional development in a high fire-risk area already burdened by traffic constraints, I strongly urge the Council to require a
more rigorous, scenario-based analysis—one that evaluates evacuation capacity during peak congestion rather than relying on averaged or theoretical
conditions.
I would also appreciate clarification regarding how this proposal differs from past decisions. The SALT project at Deer Canyon was denied in part due to
concerns about traffic and infrastructure strain in this same area. From a resident’s perspective, the Festival project raises many of the same issues. If
there are meaningful distinctions that change the level of risk, it would be helpful for the community to understand them.
Lastly, I encourage you to carefully consider the input of the residents you represent. Many District 6 residents have consistently voiced concerns about
traffic and evacuation safety—concerns grounded in daily experience and public safety realities. As both Mayor and our District 6 representative, your
role is especially important in ensuring these perspectives are fully considered before any final decisions are made.
This is not opposition to development itself, but a request that decisions—particularly those involving evacuation safety—are made with thorough and
realistic analysis. Given the increasing frequency and severity of wildfire risk, this issue warrants careful and deliberate attention.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Grace Branche