 |
|
|
|
|
Letters
Events at club should not impact nearby homes
Thank you for your well-written article about Courtside Club in the May 23 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times.
However, I would like to address one point that was not made clear in the article. The neighbors are not trying to stop any ongoing alcohol service around the swimming pool, center court, or on any part of the premises.
Courtside Club does not currently have a license for the sale or service of alcohol. Although they have a conditional-use permit granted by the town of Los Gatos in October 1998, Courtside was denied a license by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. An administrative hearing was held in May 1999, because official protesters and Courtside could not come to agreement on conditions to be incorporated in the ABC license. In June 1999, Lee Tyler, ABC administrative law judge, ruled that the club's license application was denied, because "issuance of the license and permit would create circumstances, in terms of noise levels, that would interfere with the quiet enjoyment of residents living within 100 feet of the licensed premises and possibly of residents living farther away." The formal protest of the neighbors was sustained.
Courtside appealed Judge Tyler's decision, but withdrew its appeal in December 2001. The application process with the ABC may begin anew in January 2002, following ABC's mandatory 12-month waiting period.
Mr. Reedy's comment that the "conflict is over technicalities" makes light of the importance of restricting the licensing of outdoor premises that are within 100 feet of residences (in some cases, within 50 feet), and where no natural boundary exists to protect those residences. It is the goal of the ABC that any issuance of an alcohol license ensures that there will be no impact to surrounding residences. Mr. Reedy is quick to state that "it is impossible for a club of this size to have no impact."
In the original conditional-use permit of 1998, the town of Los Gatos Planning commissioners felt that this condition was not only possible, but was a requirement, when Courtside initially sought to expand its facility. Condition No. 8 of the existing permit states that at the one-year review there should be "no neighborhood impacts associated with the use." The rapid growth rate of Courtside membership makes this requirement for "no impact" even more important.
Neighbors have no problem with the service of alcohol inside the club and around the family pool. We do have a problem with the licensing of any other outdoor venues and need reassurance that the activities held on those venues will allow us the quiet enjoyment of our homes, whether the event is hosted by Courtside or any other entity.
Carol Shultz
Los Gatos
Correction
In a story in the July 11 Los Gatos Weekly Times, "Open Reason," the property tax rate for the initiation of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District was incorrect. The correct rate was 1.7 cents per $100 of assessed value.
|
|
|
|
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
