ORDINANCE NO. _______
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ANAHEIM APPROVING AND ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE
ANAHEIM RESORT SPECIFIC PLAN NO. 92-2 (SP 92-2) AND
CHAPTER 18.116 (ANAHEIM RESORT SPECIFIC PLAN NO. 92-2 (SP 92-2) ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS) OF TITLE 18 OF
THE ANAHEIM MUNICIPAL CODE
(AMENDMENT NO. 18 TO THE ANAHEIM RESORT SPECIFIC
PLAN)
(DEV2024-00058)
WHEREAS, pursuant to the City’s police power, as granted broadly under Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution, the City Council of the City of Anaheim (“City Council”) has the authority to enact and enforce ordinances and regulations for the public peace, morals, and welfare of the City of Anaheim (the “City”) and its residents; and WHEREAS, on April 29, 1986, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 4709 to establish uniform procedures for the adoption and implementation of Specific Plans for the coordination of future development within the City, and “Zoning and Development Standards” when the Specific Plan includes zoning regulations and development standards to be substituted for existing zoning regulations and development standards under the Zoning Code, which “Zoning and Development Standards” shall be adopted by ordinance independent of the rest of the Specific Plan; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the procedures set forth in Chapter 18.72 (formerly, Chapter
18.93) of the Anaheim Municipal Code, on September 27, 1994, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 5454 amending the zoning map to reclassify approximately 549.5 acres of certain real property described therein into the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan (ARSP) No. 92-2 Zone subject to certain conditions as specified therein, and Ordinance No. 5453 relating to establishment of Zoning and Development Standards for the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan No. 92-2 by the addition of Chapter 18.48 [subsequently renumbered as Chapter 18.116] to said Municipal Code (referred to herein as “ARSP Zoning and Development Standards”); and WHEREAS, the ARSP provides a long-range, comprehensive plan for future development within The Anaheim Resort, an area of the City designated on the General Plan for Commercial Recreation land uses. The Specific Plan includes a land use plan, zoning and development standards, design guidelines and a public facilities plan and permits the development of hotel, convention, retail, and other visitor-serving uses as well as the infrastructure improvements that are needed to support future development; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the adoption of the ARSP and related actions (General Plan Amendment, The Anaheim Resort Identity Program and The Anaheim Resort Public Realm Landscape Program), the City Council certified Master Environmental Impact Report (MEIR) No. 313, with a Statement of Findings and a Statement of Overriding Considerations, and adopted
Mitigation Monitoring Program (MMP) No. 0085 by adopting Resolution No. 94R-234 on September 20, 1994. Since being certified in 1994, two validation reports were prepared (1999 and 2004) to evaluate the continued relevance and accuracy of MEIR No. 313; and WHEREAS, since the adoption of the ARSP, the City Council has adopted fifteen (15) amendments and fifteen (15) zoning code adjustments, and two (2) amendment requests have been submitted and subsequently withdrawn, which have expanded the total acreage of the ARSP area to approximately 581.3 acres; and
WHEREAS, in support of Amendment No. 14 to the ARSP to update the ARSP to reflect development conditions and regulations, increase the maximum allowable square footage in the Public Recreational (PR) District to accommodate the future expansion of the Anaheim Convention Center and replace the conditions of approval contained in Ordinance No. 5454 with MMP No. 85C in conjunction with related actions (General Plan Amendment, Zoning Code Amendment, The Anaheim Resort Identity Program Amendment and The Anaheim Resort Public Realm Landscape Program Amendment), the City Council certified Supplemental EIR No. 2008- 340 (Supplemental EIR No. 340), which is a Supplemental EIR to MEIR No. 313, and approved MMP No. 85C by adopting Resolution No. 2012-158 on December 18, 2012; and WHEREAS, the City Council did receive a verified petition for a General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan Amendment, and Administrative Adjustment from Union Investments USA, LLC (“Applicant”) to increase the number of hotel rooms at the Wyndham Hotel from the previously-approved 78 rooms to 107 rooms, and changes to 6,394 square feet of accessory use areas (the “Project”) on certain real property located at 515 West Katella Avenue in the City of Anaheim, County of Orange, State of California, as generally depicted on the map attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference (the "Property"); and WHEREAS, the Project includes the following land use entitlements:
1. An Amendment to Table LU-4 of the General Plan Land Use Element to create a new density category, “Medium Density (Modified B)” for the ARSP.
2. Amendment No. 18 to Specific Plan No. 92-2 (ARSP) to create a new density category “Medium Density (Modified B)” to include in ARSP Exhibit 3.3-2 (Commercial Recreation (C-R) District Development Density Plan) and depict the new designation on the subject property. The amendment would amend the text in ARSP Section 3.3.2 (Commercial Recreation (C-R) District Development Density) and Anaheim Municipal Code Section
18.116.060.020, Table 116-B (Hotel/Motel Room Density) to add the “Medium Density (Modified B)” category.
3. An Administrative Adjustment to allow a 28% reduction in the number of parking spaces required by the Code.
WHEREAS, Amendment No. 18 to the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan No. 92-2, including amendments to Chapter 18.116 (Anaheim Resort Specific Plan No. 92-2 (SP92-2) Zoning and
Development Standards), has been prepared and submitted for the City’s consideration pursuant to the procedures set forth in Chapter 18.72 of the Anaheim Municipal Code and is on file with the City of Anaheim Planning and Building Department and incorporated herein by this reference as if set forth in full; and
WHEREAS, Amendment No. 18 to the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan would create a new density category “Medium Density (Modified B)” in ARSP Exhibit 3.3-2 (Commercial Recreation (C-R) District Development Density Plan) and depict the new designation on the subject property to allow for 107 hotel rooms and 6,394 square feet of accessory uses. Likewise, the amendment would amend the text in ARSP Section 3.3.2 (Commercial Recreation (C-R) District Development Density) to add the Medium Density (Modified B) category; and WHEREAS, Amendment No. 18 to the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan would amend Section 18.116.060.020, Table 116-B (Hotel/Motel Room Density) to add the “Medium Density (Modified B)” category; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.; herein referred to as “CEQA”), the State of California Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations; herein referred to as the "CEQA Guidelines"), the City is the "lead agency" for the preparation and consideration of environmental documents for the Project; and
WHEREAS, a Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared in accordance with CEQA and CEQA Guidelines to evaluate the physical environmental impacts of the Project; and WHEREAS, in conformance with CEQA and CEQA Guidelines, a Mitigation Monitoring Program has been prepared for the Project and includes mitigation measures that are specific to the Project (herein referred to as “MMP No. 395”). A complete copy of MMP No. 395 is on file and can be viewed in the Planning Services Division of the City; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did hold a public hearing at the Anaheim Civic Center, Council Chamber, 200 South Anaheim Boulevard, on December 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., notice of said public hearing having been duly given as required by law and in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 18.60 (Procedures) of the Code, to hear and consider evidence and testimony concerning the contents and sufficiency of the Mitigated Negative Declaration, the Project, and to investigate and make findings and recommendations in connection therewith; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, after due consideration, inspection, investigation, and study made by itself and in its behalf, and after due consideration of all evidence and reports offered at said hearing with respect to the Project, recommended that the City Council approve and adopt Amendment No. 18 to the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan No. 92-2 and Zoning and
Development Standards (Chapter 18.116 of the Anaheim Municipal Code), as proposed as part of DEV2024-00058; and
WHEREAS, upon receipt of a summary of evidence, and a report of findings and recommendations of the Planning Commission, the City Council did fix the 24th the day of February, 2026, as the time, and the City Council Chamber in the Civic Center as the place for a public hearing on the Project, including Amendment No. 18 to the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan No. 92-2 and Zoning and Development Standards (Chapter 18.116 of the Anaheim Municipal Code), as proposed as part of the Project, and did give notice thereof in the manner and as provided by law and in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 18.60 of the Code, to hear and consider evidence for and against the Project; and
WHEREAS, on February 24, 2026, the City Council did conduct a public hearing and did give all persons interested therein an opportunity to be heard, and did receive evidence and reports and did consider the Project, including recommendations of the Planning Commission, the Mitigated Negative Declaration and MMP No. 395; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 2026-012, considered and approved by the City Council on February 24, 2026, concurrently with but prior in time to consideration of this Ordinance, and based upon its independent review, analysis, and consideration of the environmental information contained in the Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared in connection with the Project, the City Council has heretofore approved and adopted the Mitigated Negative Declaration and MMP No. 395, and determining that (i) the Mitigated Negative Declaration has been prepared in compliance with the requirements of CEQA and all applicable CEQA Guidelines; (ii) the Mitigated Negative Declaration and MMP No. 395 are adequate to serve as the appropriate environmental determination for the Project; and (iii) no further environmental documentation needs to be prepared for CEQA for the Project; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, after due consideration, inspection, investigation and study made by itself and in its behalf and after due consideration of all evidence and reports offered at said hearing with respect to the request for the Project, the City Council does hereby find and determine that all of the following conditions exist with respect to the proposed Amendment No. 18 to the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan No. 92-2 and Zoning and Development Standards (Chapter
18.116 of the Anaheim Municipal Code):
1. That the property proposed for the Specific Plan Amendment has unique site characteristics, such as topography, location, or surroundings, that are enhanced by special land use and development standards. The property proposed for the Specific Plan Amendment and re- designation of the property to the Medium Density (Modified B) density category has unique site characteristics and surroundings, as it is located in The Anaheim Resort, the only area of the City designated by the General Plan for Commercial Recreation land use, and specifically designated for tourist and visitor-serving uses. The ARSP is one of three specific plans within The Anaheim Resort that implement the General Plan’s Commercial-Recreation land use designation. The
proposed amendment will not change the boundaries of the existing ARSP or make any changes to the development standards that implement this designation.
2. The amended Specific Plan will remain consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan. The proposed amendment to the ARSP is consistent with the proposed amendment to the General Plan, as described above. The Specific Plan Amendment is also consistent with the purposes, standards and land use guidelines of the General Plan, subject to the approval of the proposed General Plan Amendment.
3. The Specific Plan Amendment will not result in any new development, as the modifications to the hotel have already been completed. All construction that occurred was interior to the building and the exterior of the site remained the same. The existing hotel is compatible with the surrounding tourist-oriented area.
4. The proposed amendment maintains and contributes to the balance of uses within the City by encouraging tourist and entertainment related industries in an area of the City specifically designated for this type of use, but at a higher density. The amendment will allow the retainment of the additional individually-keyed rooms and accessory uses, which contributes to the mix of uses within the ARSP.
5. The specific plan respects environmental, aesthetic and historic resources consistent with economic realities as the potential environmental impacts associated with the Project were analyzed and applicable mitigation measures have been adopted as further described in the City Council’s heretofore adoption of Resolution No. 2026-012 determining Mitigated Negative Declaration and MMP No. 395 as the appropriate environmental documents for the Project. There are no proposed changes to the exterior of the building or site; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to amend the Zoning and Development Standards established by Ordinance No. 5453, as previously amended, contained within Chapter 18.116 of the Anaheim Municipal Code applicable to the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan No. 92-2 as specified herein; and
WHEREAS, the City Council determines that the evidence in the record constitutes substantial evidence to support the actions taken and the findings made in this ordinance, that the facts stated in this ordinance are supported by substantial evidence in the record, including testimony received at the public hearing, the staff presentation, the staff report, and all materials in the project files. There is no substantial evidence that negate the findings made in this ordinance.
The City Council expressly declares that it considered all evidence presented and reached these findings after due consideration of all evidence presented to it.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
That Table 116-B (Hotel/Motel Room Density) of Section 18.116.060 (Development Density Areas—Commercial Recreation (C-R) District (Development Area 1) of Chapter 18.116 (Anaheim Resort Specific Plan No. 92-2 (SP 92-2) Title 18 of the Anaheim Municipal Code be, and the same is hereby, amended and restated to read in full as follows:
TABLE 116-B
HOTEL/MOTEL ROOM DENSITY
Density Category Maximum Density
Low Density Up to 50 rooms per gross acre or 75 rooms per lot or parcel existing on the date of adoption of the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan (or for amended areas, the date of the adoption of the specific plan amendment), whichever is greater.
Low-Medium
Density
Up to 75 rooms per gross acre or 75 rooms per lot or parcel existing on the date of adoption of the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan, whichever is greater, except that for that area identified in Ordinance No. 5694 as Area 8, the maximum density shall be 75 rooms per gross acre.
Low-Medium
Density (Modified)
Up to 252 rooms and 75,593 square feet of accessory uses.
Medium Density Up to 100 rooms per gross acre or 75 rooms per lot or parcel existing on the date of adoption of the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan, whichever is greater.
Medium Density
(Modified)
Up to 345 rooms
Medium Density
(Modified A)
Up to 127 rooms
Medium Density
(Modified B)
Up to 107 rooms and 6,394 square feet of accessory uses.
Convention Center
(CC) Medium
Density
Up to 125 rooms per gross acre (with trip generation characteristics mitigated to the equivalent of 100 rooms per gross) or 75 rooms per lot or parcel existing on the date of adoption of the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan, whichever is greater.
SECTION 2.
That Section 3.3.2 of the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan be amended to read in its entirety as follows:
3.3.2 Commercial Recreation (C-R) District Development Density The ARSP establishes eight density designations in the C-R District (Development Area 1) that will help assure that development of the area will be compatible with proposed infrastructure and with the goal to protect surrounding residential uses. These density designations are based upon hotel/motel development and allow up to 20% of each hotel/motel project gross square footage, excluding parking facilities, to be developed with integrated (i.e., included within the main hotel/motel complex) accessory uses. These accessory uses will reduce the otherwise maximum permitted hotel/motel density at the rate of one hotel/motel room per six hundred (600) gross square feet of accessory use. For properties proposed to be developed with permitted and conditionally permitted uses other than hotels/motels with accessory uses, the traffic generation characteristics of said uses shall not exceed those associated with the other-wise permitted hotel/motel (including accessory uses) density as determined by the Planning Director or designee prior to Final Site Plan review and approval.
The eight density categories established by the plan are:
Low Density (up to 50 hotel rooms/acre);
Low-Medium Density (up to 75 hotel rooms/acre);
Low-Medium Density (Modified) (up to 252 rooms and 75,593 square feet of accessory uses);
Medium Density (up to 100 hotel rooms/acre);
Medium Density (Modified) (up to 345 rooms);
Medium Density (Modified A) (up to 127 rooms);
Medium Density (Modified B) (up to 107 rooms and 6,394 square feet of accessory uses); and
Convention Center Medium Density (up to 125 hotel rooms/acre provided the trip generation characteristics are equivalent to 100 hotel rooms/acre) Exhibit 3.3-2 (C-R District Development Density Plan) identifies the location of each density designation within the C-R District.
The areas with the Low Density designation are generally located where planned future infrastructure improvements will not support more intense development, or which are located further from the area's attractions. Areas with the Low-Medium and Medium Density designations are located where planned future infrastructure will be sufficient to accommodate these more intense levels of development, and which are located closer to the main attractions of The Anaheim Resort. Areas immediately adjacent to the Anaheim Convention Center have the Convention Center Medium designation in recognition that guests at these hotels typically do not have automobiles and, therefore, place fewer demands on area streets, one of the most important infrastructure factors that tend to limit development density. In addition, the Low Medium (Modified) density designation allows 252 hotel rooms and 75,593 square feet of commercial uses, which is equivalent to 378 hotel rooms, at the southeast comer of Katella Avenue and Harbor
Boulevard; the Medium Density (Modified) density designation allows up to 345 rooms or its equivalent on South Manchester Avenue; the Medium Density (Modified A) density designation allows up to 127 rooms or its equivalent on Clementine Street; and the Medium Density (Modified B) density designation allows up to 107 rooms and 6,394 square feet of accessory uses on West Katella Avenue.
In recognition of the extensive existing development within The Anaheim Resort, the ARSP contains provisions, which permit existing hotels/motels to renovate or rebuild at the density existing on the date of adoption of the ARSP, even if the density exceeds the maximum permitted by the density category in which the property is located.
The C-R District also encompasses properties that have a Mobile Home Park (MHP) Overlay designation, an Anaheim Resort Residential (ARR) Overlay designation, a Theme Park (TP) Overlay designation, and a Parking (P) Overlay designation.
SECTION 3.
That Exhibit 3.3-2 of the Anaheim Resort Specific Plan be replaced with Exhibit B (Exhibit
3.3-2 Commercial Recreation (C-R) District Development Density Plan) attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 4. SEVERABILITY
The City Council of the City of Anaheim hereby declares that should any section, paragraph, sentence, phrase, term or word of this ordinance be declared for any reason to be invalid or unconstitutional by the final judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction, it is the intent of the City Council that it would have adopted all other portions of this ordinance independent of the elimination herefrom of any such portion as may be declared invalid or unconstitutional. If any section, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance, and each section, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause and phrase or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one (or more) section, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase had been declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 5. CERTIFICATION
The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this ordinance and shall cause this ordinance or a summary thereof to be printed once within fifteen (15) days after its adoption in the Anaheim Bulletin, a newspaper of general circulation, published and circulated in the City of Anaheim.
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE
This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force thirty (30) days from and after its final passage.
THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Anaheim held on the ___ day of _________, 2026, and thereafter passed and adopted at a regular meeting of said City Council held on the ___ day of __________, 2026, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
CITY OF ANAHEIM
By: _________________________________
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
ATTEST:
______________________________________
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
EXHIBIT “B”
“EXHIBIT 3.3-2 COMMERCIAL RECREATION (C-R) DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT DENSITY PLAN”