Angels Baseball filed an appeal Wednesday with the city of Anaheim challenging the Planning Commission’s approval of a $450 million mixed-used development at the Platinum Triangle, calling for a more extensive environmental review of the project.
Proposed by Hong Kong-based LT Global Development, the project would put condominium and apartment units, a 200-room hotel, and office and commercial space on a property adjacent to Angel Stadium. It also would take the property out of one development district and into another, effectively reducing the amount of development allowed for future projects around the stadium.
Following the Planning Commission’s Aug. 22 decision, Angels officials claimed in strong terms that the LT Global project would endanger their own plans to develop a sports-entertainment complex near the stadium.
But in a letter to the City Council, Angels Chairman Dennis Kuhl retreated somewhat from statements made by team representatives that the project would “irreparably harm” the team and Angel Stadium.
“To be clear, Angels Baseball is not taking a position at this time with regards to the LT Global proposal,” said Kuhl in the letter. “The Angels and the public simply do not have enough information to fairly evaluate the impacts of this project.”
The team is now demanding the city do a full environmental impact report, which would require the city too do a more extensive review of parking, noise, air quality and other impacts.
News of the appeal was first reported by the Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register.
The appeal is unlikely to affect the progress of the proposal, which was already expected to go before the City Council as early as Sept. 27, according to city spokeswoman Erin Ryan.
“From an environmental perspective, the Platinum Triangle has been thoroughly studied for a level of development well beyond what’s being proposed with this project,” said Ryan. “That said, we want to hear any concerns that the Angels have as this project continues through the process.”
“This is about an individual project, distinct from discussions about the future of baseball in Anaheim,” Ryan added in an email statement.
Contact Thy Vo at tvo@voiceofoc.org or follow her on Twitter @thyanhvo.