Anaheim city council voted unanimously last Tuesday in favor of continuing discussion on approving a development agreement for the construction of housing units and a retail space in Anaheim Hills. 

The project, called Anaheim Hills Festival, would add multiple-family units to an 85.7 acre property, making for a four-story residential building. The project would be located south of Santa Ana Canyon Road and between Festival Drive and Roosevelt Road. 

The motion for a continuance, initiated by councilmember Natalie Rubalcava, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Carlos A. Leon and supported by the city attorney, allows the city council to review the terms of the agreement, pose possible amendments and allows city employees to bring forward alternatives where the city can deny the development agreement.

Shea Properties Management Inc. applied for approval to update existing senior housing units and business commercial areas as well as various proposed uses of the land. This includes using the land for entertainment, scenic, visitor and retail commercial areas. 10% of the units would be designated as affordable housing for moderate-income families.

The residential building would wrap around a five-story parking structure, with one underground level. The project proposes a total of 447 units with options that include one-bedroom, two-bedrooms and three-bedrooms with either private open spaces, ground floor patios or balconies. Project amenities include a clubhouse, two swimming pools, courtyards, a fitness center and a proposed enclosed dog park.

The Anaheim Hills Festival Specific Plan would replace a long-since closed Regal Cinema in the area.

The Western State Carpenter’s Union also made an appearance at the meeting to protest against contracting Shea Development to undertake the project.

According to John Tafoya, a business representative for the union, along with statements made during the meeting, the union expressed concern that, among other issues, developers would contract others that could potentially pay their workers low wages.

Concerns over the past litigation involving the developers was also discussed.

“We’re big believers in a project being built with a skilled and trained work force and the workers building the project to be paid a liveable wage, a middle class liveable wage,” Tafoya said.

The designated area for the Anaheim Hills Festival Specific Plan is classified as a very high fire hazard severity zone. If approved, the developer would require a Wildfire Evacuation and Awareness Plan prior to Certificate of Occupancy.

The applicant stated in its proposal that it intended to donate $100,000 to Anaheim Fire and Rescue and to invest in vehicle-sensitive systems that allow for emergency vehicles priority passage by changing traffic signals.

However, many of the public commenters still showed skepticism at the safety of the project, with many sharing their experiences with excessive traffic both during emergencies, such as the 2017 Canyon Fire 2. 

“I know we need housing and we need employment and things like that, but already we’re behind on the infrastructure. The traffic is already gridlocked and the fires are increasing and the danger is real and it’s prevalent,” said 30-year Anaheim resident Keith Foelsch. 

Supporters of the plan stated that district 6 — the district the project is located in — needs more housing.

“The only way I can even wrap my head around this project is that it is a replacement of an existing use,” District 6 Representative and Councilmember Natalie Meeks said. “But I want to make sure we protect the remainder of the commercial uses. I think that the center is important to Anaheim Hills.”

The city council is able to open public comment on the issue again at their discretion should they find an issue that warrants public discussion, but are not required to.

The city council will revisit the project on Feb. 3.