Anaheim’s Arena Foes Vow to Fight

Foes of the proposed $85-million Anaheim arena vowed to go to court to block the project after the City Council refused on Tuesday to reconsider its approval of the facility’s environmental impact report.

The council postponed for two weeks a decision on a request by the California Angels, Los Angeles Rams and other neighbors of the proposed 20,000-seat arena to set aside the Dec. 27 approval of the facility’s environmental report, zone change and parking lot permit.

Attorneys for the Rams and Anaheim Stadium Associates (ASA), a development firm, said they will file suit by Jan. 29. Peter N. Scolney, an attorney for the Rams, said that state law requires challenges to EIRs to be filed within 30 days of approval by the City Council.

“We have no choice now (in order) to protect the client’s rights,” Scolney said. “The City Council’s action today . . . compels us to file.”

The owner of Orange Tree Mobile Home Park, located next to the proposed arena, previously indicated that he is likely to file a lawsuit challenging the EIR and other related issues.

Mayor Fred Hunter said Tuesday that he needs more time to analyze the numerous requests by opponents of the arena. Hunter has previously said that a lawsuit could delay the opening of the arena a full year and jeopardize negotiations to bring a professional basketball or hockey franchise to Anaheim.

Hunter added that even though he believes the city would prevail in court, the delay would set back construction about six months, long enough to miss the opening of the 1991-92 basketball season.

City officials hope to begin construction in February and open the arena by October, 1991.

The California Angels, Los Angeles Rams, ASA, Orange Tree Mobile Home Park and Richard Tozer, owner of nearby horse stables, each had formally asked the City Council to reconsider its previous approvals of the arena, which would be located northeast of Anaheim Stadium.

They contend that the city did not fully consider the effects of traffic, noise and other adverse environmental effects that the arena would bring to the area.