Local News in Brief : Anaheim : Planners Vote to Curb Apartment Units by 50%

The city Planning Commission on Monday voted unanimously to cut by 50% the number of apartment units that can be built in a congested downtown neighborhood.

The commissioners voted to amend the city’s general plan, reducing the building density in the 95-acre area roughly bounded by Anaheim Boulevard to the west, Cypress Street to the south, the Union Pacific Railway to the east and La Palma Avenue to the north.

Residents in the area had voiced concerns about the increasing numbers of apartment complex’s being built and the loss of single-family homes.

The area’s current medium density residential designation allows for construction of 36 dwelling units per acre and would permit a maximum 3,442 dwelling units to be built. Under the area’s new designation of low-medium density residential, only 18 dwelling units per acre will be allowed, cutting in half the overall number of dwelling units that could be built.

A survey by an area citizens group, the Central City Neighborhood Council, taken in the area last year, indicated that 85% of the respondents approved such a redesignation.

The commission now must approve a zoning change for housing in the area that will reflect the new density restrictions. A public hearing on the zoning change is scheduled for the commission’s April 11 meeting.