The Angels yesterday "filed an appeal" with the city of Anaheim, demanding that it "require a new environmental impact report" on a proposed $450M project that would rise up adjacent to Angel Stadium, according to Joseph Pimentel of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER. Angels attorney George Mihlsten said the proposed 15-acre LT Platinum Center would "result in new or more severe environmental impacts that were not addressed in previous environmental documents." The filing comes about a week after the Angels and the city "acknowledged that they had resumed talks for a new stadium deal, and the city Planning Commission’s 4-0 approval of LT Global’s development." The project would "include a condominium high-rise with up to 30 stories, a 200-unit apartment building, a hotel, and 433,000 square feet of office and retail space." Anaheim Chief Communications Officer Michael Lyster said that the debate over the project "would not impact negotiations between the city and the Angels as they try to reach a deal to keep the team in Anaheim." A key point in ballpark talks is "how to fund" the $150M in estimated improvements for the 50-year-old ballpark (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 9/1). In L.A., Bill Shaikin notes the Anaheim City Council has "final say on the project and could vote to approve it as soon as Sept. 27." If the City Council does not do so, Angels spokesperson Marie Garvey "declined to rule out the possibility that the team would sue Anaheim." A new EIR could "require months or years to complete, and could significantly add to the costs for a developer that has promised the city" at least $5M per year in tax revenue from the project. The city has "ruled out paying" for ballpark upgrades (L.A. TIMES, 9/1).
