Fullerton Sues Anaheim, Citing Aggravation From Redevelopment Project : Courts: Claim alleges neighbor’s plans would cause problems with traffic, pollution and increase need for services. But Fullerton official ‘optimistic’ of reaching amicable settlement.

The city of Fullerton has sued Anaheim over an 895-acre redevelopment project that Fullerton officials contend adversely affects their city’s traffic, pollution, sewer systems and other services.

Despite the lawsuit, which was filed Friday in Orange County Superior Court, Fullerton City Manager James L. Armstrong said he was “optimistic” that an out-of-court settlement will be reached soon.

“We have reached an agreement in concept with Anaheim and are confident documentation will be complete within the next 30 days,” Armstrong said.

He said the suit was filed to protect Fullerton’s legal rights should the tentative agreement fall through. Because the project was approved 30 days ago, Friday was the statutory deadline to file a legal challenge.

Fullerton officials say they are concerned that Anaheim might build a large commercial center along the border of the two cities. Fullerton officials said such a center would compete with Fullerton businesses.

When Anaheim approved the project, Barry Eaton, Fullerton’s chief planner, called it “a classic case of one city using redevelopment to steal the commercial base from another city.”

But Anaheim officials said Fullerton’s concerns are unfounded because the city plans to develop the area for industrial use, not commercial. Nonetheless, city officials say they could rezone the property in the future.

On Friday, neither Fullerton nor Anaheim officials would discuss the terms of the tentative settlement.

The Anaheim City Council approved the redevelopment project Dec. 14. and council members said at that time that they hoped the project would help revitalize two of the city’s most run-down areas.

Many structures in the redevelopment area have been targets of graffiti and other vandalism. As many as 34% of the buildings are “obsolete” and 90% of the properties are in violation of one or more city codes, city officials said.

The project, which is expected to span 30 years, consists of the North Central Industrial Area and the Anaheim Boulevard Commercial/Industrial area. The north section is bordered by Fullerton on the north and La Palma Avenue to the south. It reaches from Harbor Boulevard and Lemon Street on the west to East Street on the east.

The Anaheim Boulevard redevelopment area is bounded by Broadway on the north and Orangewood Avenue on the south.