North OC Times

A proposed veterans and general cemetery in east Anaheim received approval from Anaheim’s Planning Commission on Monday. The proposal, known as the Gypsum Canyon Cemetery Project, will now go before Anaheim’s City Council, potentially on July 23.

The project entails a 238-acre cemetery located in the open space of east Anaheim, adjacent to the Riverside (91) Freeway and just east of the 241 toll road. The Orange County Cemetery District, which oversees multiple cemeteries across the county including the Anaheim Cemetery, is spearheading this initiative.

The plan includes a veterans cemetery spanning 157 acres and a general public cemetery covering 126 acres. These would be managed by the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet). The development of these cemeteries is expected to unfold over several decades.

This project aims to establish Orange County’s first veterans cemetery, offering a closer option for those interning or visiting loved ones who served in the military. Currently, the nearest veterans cemeteries are Riverside National Cemetery, Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, and Los Angeles National Cemetery.

Additionally, the public cemetery would provide much-needed burial spaces for families in Anaheim and across Orange County where existing cemeteries are nearing capacity.

The Planning Commission has approved various requests associated with this project including permission to build and operate a cemetery, updates to zoning and planning documents, and an addendum to a previous environmental analysis for the area. This site was previously considered for a housing development known as Mountain Park.

For more information about the project, visit Anaheim.net/cemetery.