Last year, the city discovered the club has operated for decades without the required conditional use permit, stumbling on its existence after neighbors reported excessive noise and parking problems to the city's code enforcement division.

When the Alano Club failed to apply for its permits by Jan. 14, even after the city sent notices in August, October and December of 2004, code enforcement ordered the club to "cease any and all operations," until a completed permit application form had been submitted.

Although the club was willing to sign the application before the Jan. 14 deadline, the city also required the signature of co-owner Stringfellow Properties. Stringfellow, however, declined to sign.

Because of the club's willingness to cooperate—in spite of Stringfellow Properties' refusal to cooperate—San Jose Code Enforcement Deputy Director Mike Hannon discussed the matter with his boss, Stephen Haase, and ultimately granted the Alano Club a last minute reprieve. Now the club has 30 days to comply with its application requirements.

"As I gave it further thought, it really did appear to me that the Alano Club was trying to do the right thing," Hannon said. "[Stringfellow's] unwillingness to allow the public hearing process to begin was alarming to me. I believe it's in the best interest of justice to give them this extension."

The Alano Club and Stringfellow Properties have equally owned 1139 Minnesota Ave. since 1976 as tenants-in-common. Stringfellow Properties is a company formed by Bradley Hindley's family members in Santa Rosa to manage their investments.

The relationship between the Alano Club and Stringfellow was minimal at best, according to Hindley. The Alano Club paid Stringfellow $1,200 a month to rent the space.

In early January 2005, when the Alano Club approached Stringfellow to co-sign the permit application, Hindley said he and his family were not prepared to take on any responsibilities the city might impose, such as paying for improvements to the property.

"We have never exercised our right to be on the property," Hindley said. "We just want out."

Hannon told Hindley that even if Stringfellow signed, the company could back out of the application process at any point. But with short notice and inexperience dealing with San Jose, Hindley emailed Hannon on Jan. 14 to say he was not going to sign. "It's an issue the Alano Club has with the city," Hindley said.

So the Alano Club, which holds numerous Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon meetings and provides a space for recovering addicts to eat and mingle daily, was suddenly forced to shut its doors.

Then on Jan. 20 the club was permitted to reopen; however, it must submit a completed application by Feb. 18. At this point Alano Club has basically three options. The club can either convince Stringfellow to sign the permit as a co-owner of the building, buy Stringfellow's share of the property or sign a long-term lease with Stringfellow.

According to one Willow Glen resident who has attended Alcoholic Anonymous meetings for more than 15 years at the Minnesota Avenue club the organization wants to buy Stringfellow's half of the property. The Willow Glen Resident is not disclosing the individual's name to protect his anonymity as a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. However, the man is presently involved in spearheading the efforts to buy out Stringfellow Properties.

"For 29 years, the club has helped people put their lives together. It's saved families, it's saved souls," he said. Having a place like the Alano Club, gives recovering addicts a sanctuary from a lifestyle they're trying to escape, he added.

"When you want to make a life change, you need to change your environment," the man said.

Although Alano Club members and meeting attendees are anonymous, he said a substantial number of people who frequent Alano Club are also Willow Glen residents.

Looking Ahead

Hindley said he will happily sell his half of the property at its fair market value to the club. And the organization said to accomplish this it is now looking for funding from private donors to purchase the land.

If the application is filed on a timely basis, neighbors will be notified of a community meeting, and thereafter a public hearing will be scheduled with the planning commission for approval, Hannon said.

When the application and public hearing process begins, neighboring businesses and residents will finally be able to voice any concerns they may have. The issues, Hannon said, will be addressed throughout various stages of the process, including comments from any community meetings, which will be considered in crafting the conditional use permit.

In a previous story reported by the Willow Glen Resident in its March 24, 2004, issue, the neighbors living directly behind the property have asked the club to buffer the noise by installing a sound wall in the backyard. The backyard is separated from the neighbors' properties by a wooden fence. The neighbors also want the club's parking lot, which is only dirt, to be paved. And they are requesting that the club restrict the use of floodlights, which are shining into one resident's home until midnight.

Iris Court resident Mindy Whitney, whose home sits directly behind the Alano Club, said that the club's outdoor floodlights that turn on at 8 p.m. and go off at midnight shine right into her master bedroom window, even through the blinds. And she said the sound of Harley-Davidson motorcycles can be heard at 7 a.m.

Another Iris Court resident, Chris Piekarski, said the noise occurs as early as 5:30 a.m. and after 9 p.m., and the situation has become worse during the last year and a half .In March 2004, he said he had already called the club six times and contacted the club in person three times, but there hadn't been any improvement.

Business owners on Lincoln Avenue whose customers rely on the public parking lot off Minnesota Avenue say most of the Alano Club members park in the public lot rather than in their private, unpaved parking area.

In the previous Resident article, Alano Club manager Trish Lopez said that the club has 15 to 20 parking spaces in its own lot that are used by people who pay for a club-member parking pass. She added that those spaces are rarely full. Lopez declined to comment on the club's recent closure and reopening.

Willow Glen Neighborhood Association president Helen Solinski said other neighbors and businesses have expressed concerns regarding noise and parking. But She is hopeful that conditions will improve.

"I hope they will try to make the improvements, abide by the conditional use permit and be a good neighbor," she said. "They need to be responsible and respect that they're no different than any other business on Lincoln Avenue."

However, Willow Glen Roasting Company owner Chris Carris sees things a bit differently saying that the spaces behind the businesses are public parking and that club members have the right to use it also.

And he also added that if the club closes part of his customer base will be "depleted."

He also believes it's an important and needed asset for the community. "It's part of Willow Glen, and many members live here. The club provides a very necessary service," he said.

On the city level, San Jose District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager said he is glad the Alano Club received a 30-day extension. "I'm optimistic everything can be worked out with the Alano Club," he said. "I understand the difficulties they've been facing and want to work with them to make sure they meet code."