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ANAHEIM, Calif. (Oct. 30, 2024) — A proposal for apartments and commercial space in east Anaheim was rejected early Wednesday by a majority of Anaheim’s City Council, citing the amount of development proposed and fire and evacuation concerns.
Known as the Hills Preserve, the project called for a seven-story building with 498 upscale apartments and an adjacent 40,000-square-foot commercial building with uses still to be determined. The proposal also included 50 acres of preserved open space.
Hills Preserve had been planned for 76 acres of private property next to Deer Canyon Park Preserve, a 103-acre city park of natural open space with hiking and horse trials.
The project, along Santa Ana Canyon next to the Riverside (91) Freeway, drew considerable interest from east Anaheim residents, with many opposing the project.
Hills Preserve also saw support from some residents and construction trade unions.
The city received more than 400 written public comments beforehand and heard from more than 60 public speakers during the meeting, which started Tuesday evening and ended early Wednesday.
The Council voted 5-2 to deny the project, led by Mayor Ashleigh Aitken and Council members Jose Diaz, Natalie Rubalcava, Steve Faessel and Natalie Meeks, who represents District 6 in east Anaheim where Hills Preserve was proposed.
With the denial, the developer, Salt Lake City-based SALT Development LLC, has the option of appealing the decision on procedural grounds. An appeal must be filed within 10 days.
A denial can also be contested by filing for a rehearing on due process concerns within seven days of approval. From there, the Council has 30 days to hold a rehearing, with no action taken within 30 days deemed a rejection.
SALT Development also has the option of bringing forth an alternate proposal including affordable housing under what’s known as “builder’s remedy.”
Builder’s remedy is a state provision that allows developers to bypass local zoning in cities without a state-approved general plan housing element by including affordable housing in their proposal.
SALT has talked about the prospect of a builder’s remedy proposal and would need to formally file a new plan with the city for environmental and other review.
