The city’s Planning Commission on Monday, Sept. 30, will consider whether to approve a 498-unit apartment complex proposed in Anaheim Hills.
City staff are recommending commissioners deny the project, saying that allowing more people and cars into the area “will increase evacuation time and result in an exacerbation of risk” and the topography of the hilly property makes it not suitable for the proposed development.
Dubbed the Hills Preserve, the development would be built on half of a 76-acre undeveloped wilderness area near the 91 Freeway off of Santa Ana Canyon Road.
The proposal before the commission would see a mid-century style, seven-story apartment building built, six single-family homes and commercial space. The other 43 acres would be dedicated as open space.
There are also plans for amenities such as a rooftop pool, a bowling alley and a fitness center and to give nonresidents access via a membership.
The site, along with the hundreds of homes that are nearby, is in a very high fire hazard severity zone.
Though landowners with SALT Development have said the proposed project is a good match for the area and will decrease fire risk by reducing vegetation and adding fire hydrants, among other features such as retaining walls, it is facing plenty of opposition from surrounding neighbors, who say it would be hard to evacuate during a fire.
The apartments’ expected rent would be from the mid-$2,400 to $16,000 a month.
A draft development agreement would see SALT Development contribute $500,000 to affordable housing, $2.2 million to Anaheim Fire and Rescue, increase access to neighboring Deer Canyon Park Preserve and dedicate the open space.
An environmental impact report says that in a worst-case scenario on a Friday, wildfire evacuation would take 210 minutes if the apartments are built compared to 186 if they aren’t.
An alternative plan for the site would halve the amount of commercial space that would be built to 40,000 square feet, eliminate the single-family homes and limit the number of non-resident club members that could visit and use the amenities.
If approved by the Planning Commission, the project would still need City Council approval. If denied, SALT Development can appeal the commission’s decision to the City Council where a hearing would need to be held within 60 days.
The meeting begins at 5 p.m. Monday at 200 S. Anaheim Blvd., inside the City Council Chambers. Interested viewers can watch on the city’s Youtube channel.
