Anaheim : Condos in Historic Area to Be Debated at Hearing

A county Superior Court commissioner Tuesday ordered Anaheim officials and a local developer to appear in court for a hearing to decide whether condominiums should be built in a historic city neighborhood.

A group called Neighbors for Improvement of Downtown Anaheim is trying to keep developer Hugo Vasquez from building two four-unit condominiums in the 800 block of North Lemon Street, charging that the new buildings will ruin the area’s cohesive appearance and increase traffic and parking problems.

Attorneys for the organization Tuesday asked Commissioner Ronald L. Bauer to stop Vasquez temporarily from working on the proposed condominiums and to set a hearing date to decide whether Vasquez should be able to build according to current plans.

Bauer refused to grant the temporary building ban, but he did set a hearing for March 2.

Because of the group’s protests, the Anaheim City Council is in the process of lowering the allowable density in the Lemon Street neighborhood, which includes many homes built around the turn of the century, attorney Michelle A. Reinglass said.

Vasquez was granted building permits only hours before the city decided to change its general plan in the neighborhood to include lower densities. Although the proposed condominiums would not comply with the newly changed general plan, they are within legal zoning limits, which also are in the process of being amended, Reinglass said.

Vasquez could not be reached for comment.