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ANAHEIM HILLS, Calif. () — A proposed apartment complex in Anaheim Hills is causing controversy in the community. The plan includes hundreds of new units and a large parking garage to go along with it.
Some residents say it’s a safety concern and will only worsen the area’s gridlock if and when they need to evacuate for wildfires.
“Been evacuated three different times,” said Joni Gaynor of Anaheim. “As soon as it’s windy, most of us are talking to neighbors, trying to get a plan, thinking ahead.”
It’s why Gaynor is one of many residents who fiercely opposes the Anaheim Hills Festival Project. The proposal would replace a former movie theater with a 447-unit apartment complex and a parking garage equipped to hold nearly 1,000 cars. It partially overlaps with a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
“It is 100% a safety concern. That is all we’re worried about,” said Andrew Winger of Anaheim. “There’s a huge difference between commercial and residential when it comes to evacuation.”
Residents say previous wildfires, including the Canyon 2 Fire in 2017, exposed flaws in the area’s evacuation plan. They described complete gridlock and fear that an additional thousand cars could make that even worse.
“I was a firefighter for 32 years and finished out the last 26 years for the City of Anaheim,” said Joe Gutierrez of Anaheim. “It just doesn’t make any sense. We live in an area that’s a choke point.”
Anaheim city spokesperson Mike Lyster says the city has created a new and improved plan. He said this potential project would not impact it.
“We’ve learned from 2017. We have spent the time since then building what is the most advanced fire readiness and evacuation plan in our area,” Lyster said.
Anaheim’s Planning Commission recommends the project’s approval. While Lyster said no decision has been made, he said the city needs additional housing.
“There are requirements for us, legal requirements under state law, for us and other cities to add housing. And we can’t put unnecessary burdens in front of approving housing,” Lyster said.
In 2024, the City Council rejected a different large apartment complex nearby over wildfire concerns. Lyster said this project is different because it would be going on land that is already developed.
“We have vehicles coming in and out here every day and there’s still activity here despite a closed movie theater. So we’re now comparing two very different sites,” Lyster said. “That does not mean evacuation and fire safety are not concerns. They absolutely are. It’s just that it is a different proposal than what we saw just a few months ago.”
Many residents, though, are not sold and are urging the council to vote “no” on the project and instead replace the movie theater with another commercial project.
“You have to protect the residents that already live here, and more importantly, what about the false sense of security you’re giving new residents that are to be moving in here? It’s not safe,” Gaynor said.
The project is expected to go before the council on March 3.
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