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Susana Barrios
From:wolki@aol.com
Sent:Sunday, June 21, 2026 3:20 PM
To:Christine Nguyen
Cc:publiccomments@anaheim.net
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] City's Pro-housing Designation Application Opposition
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Dear Mayor Aitken and Members of the Anaheim City Council:
Let me begin and state that I support responsible housing development in Anaheim and recognize
the need to create opportunities for additional housing. However, I strongly urge you to oppose the
City's Pro-housing Designation application.
While Anaheim must continue to address housing needs, it should not do so by accepting a
"state designation" that may diminish local control and limit the City's ability to respond to
legitimate community concerns. Housing policy should empower local decision-makers, not
constrain them.
Every development proposal presents unique challenges and impacts. Some projects may be
appropriate and beneficial, while others may create significant concerns related to traffic
congestion, parking shortages, infrastructure demands, public safety, wildfire evacuation,
environmental impacts, and neighborhood compatibility. The Anaheim City Council must retain
the authority to carefully evaluate each proposal, require necessary modifications, and reject
projects that are not in the best interests of residents.
I am particularly troubled that the Pro-housing Designation does not clearly protect Anaheim's
ability to address wildfire evacuation requirements and other critical public safety concerns.
California has repeatedly witnessed the devastating consequences of inadequate emergency
planning. Any policy that encourages increased density without fully addressing evacuation
capacity and emergency response impacts places residents at unnecessary risk. Public safety
must remain the City's highest priority.
I am also disturbed that the Pro-housing framework rewards reductions in parking
requirements. While reduced parking may appear beneficial on paper, the reality is often
increased congestion, overcrowded streets, spillover parking in surrounding neighborhoods, and
negative impacts on local businesses. Successful housing policy should create complete and
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livable communities rather than transferring the burden of inadequate planning onto existing
residents.
In addition, Anaheim must preserve its flexibility to address homelessness and related public
safety challenges in ways that best serve the community. The City should not commit itself to a
policy framework that could restrict future options regarding shelter placement, supportive
services, enforcement strategies, neighborhood protection, or other locally determined
solutions.
Anaheim can and should support responsible housing development. However, responsible growth
requires balance, accountability, and local oversight. Housing production should not come at the
expense of public safety, infrastructure capacity, neighborhood quality of life, or the City's
ability to make decisions that reflect the unique needs of its residents.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that you and the city council oppose the Pro-housing
Designation application and preserve Anaheim's authority to make housing decisions locally. The
City must retain the flexibility to pursue housing solutions that are responsible, sustainable, and
accountable to the people who live, work, and invest in Anaheim. Thank you.
Bob Wolkowicz
Anaheim Hills Resident
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