I have a feeling, that when the stadium was built. The mountain range was supposed to be the backdrop. Then smog moved in and blocked the view.
Santa Anita Park gets rave reviews from out of town visitors, especially during Breeders Cup when it's at Santa Anita and filled with people from around the world, because the mountains are right there. The view is just spectacular to watch a sporting event.
Unfortunately for the Angels, they have no skyline or mountains to view.
As for location on the lot. Couldn't the Angels do what the Cardinals did when they did a renovation? Build like most of the stadium just outside of the current one. Then demolish the old stadium and finish up the rest in the offseason. Would be inconvenient for a season or two, but in the end, it'll be near the same location.