Mobile Home Park’s Plea to Block Arena Denied

Orange Tree Mobile Home Park lost a bid Friday to prevent Anaheim from signing any contracts related to the proposed $95-million indoor arena, which is planned on a neighboring site.

In ruling against Orange Tree, Superior Court Judge Eileen C. Moore refused to expand an order issued Wednesday that forbids any grading, demolition or construction on the site of the proposed 20,000-seat arena on Douglass Road north of Katella Avenue.

Anaheim, the Los Angeles Rams and Anaheim Stadium Associates, a development company, agreed to the order, which forbids any grading, demolition or construction on the property pending a hearing on the environmental impact report prepared for the arena project.

But the owners of the mobile home park, which adjoins the site, wanted more. They sought an order forbidding Anaheim from signing any arena contracts unless they are conditioned upon court approval of the environmental impact report. The park also wanted to bar Anaheim from acquiring any property for the project by eminent domain.

ASA, the Rams and Campanula Properties, which owns the mobile home park, all filed lawsuits, contending that the arena’s environmental impact report is faulty.

Attorney C. William Dahlin, who represents Campanula Properties, argued Friday that any work on a project such as the arena--including the signing of contracts with concession companies or professional sports franchises--cannot be done without a proper environmental impact report.

Once contracts are signed, Dahlin said, the city might argue that it is “irretrievably committed” to building the arena. All deals should be halted pending the court hearing on that report, Dahlin said.

But Joel D. Kuperberg, one of Anaheim’s lawyers, said environmental impact reports are not intended to pertain to the signing of contracts.

Moore agreed.

“I just don’t understand how signing a contract with a team can have an effect on the environment,” Moore said.