Willow Glen Resident
News
Alano Club West will reopen its doors over holiday season
By Alicia Upano
The San Jose Planning Commission looked kindly upon Alano Club West's need to reopen over the holiday season as a temporary compromise, but the club will have to comply with a list of conditions within 90 days to remain open permanently.
The conditions will include the construction of a soundwall between the club and its residential neighbors; increased use of the rear parking lot to eliminate parking in the public lot next door, and the reduction of the rear deck to 300 square feet. The deck cannot be used until the soundwall is constructed.
The club will also have to form an advisory committee comprised of club, neighborhood and city representatives, and return to the commission in a year for a compliance review.
Commissioners unanimously approved these stipulations on Nov. 15. Commissioners Xavier Campos and Christopher Platten were absent. This may be the final step in the neighbors' three-year battle to mitigate the noise and other problems associated with the club.
Between 120,000 to150,000 recovering alcoholics, drug abusers and their families pass through the Minnesota Avenue club each year. Neighbors, however, said they live with constant noise from the club, particularly from the 815-square-foot deck.
Noise complaints began in 2003. Beginning in 2004, the city sent the club nine compliance orders to apply for a conditional use permit, which would have mitigated the negative effects in the neighborhood.
The group completed the application only after the San Jose Appeals Hearing Board ordered the club to close on Oct. 31 because it was operating without a permit. The club and the city worked feverishly to prepare the case for the planning commission.
Despite the repeated violations, club members came out in force on Nov. 15, praising the club for helping them reclaim their lives. Some shared memories of holidays spent at the club when they had nowhere else to go, or families who would not welcome them home.
"The relapse rate over the next five weeks is dramatically higher than the rest of the year," Commissioner Ash Kalra said. "However, part of sobriety is being responsible. You have to be responsible for the neighborhood around you."
Commissioner Bob Dhillon agreed the club should reopen for the holidays, but said it needed to comply promptly with city recommendations.
Staff wanted to see the conditions addressed before the club reopened its doors.
"Previous promises have been made and haven't been kept," said planner Erin Morris, emphasizing that an "incredible" amount of resources has been devoted to the Alano Club's case.
"We really think they need to perform before the burden falls on the city and the neighbors," she said.
Alano Club representative Michael Kelly said the club had complied the best it could.
"Hindsight being 20-20, we would've taken a different road, " Kelly said. "I think we're going in the right direction."
Yet the club's recent history lead several commissioners to question whether management was truly willing to make changes, or merely wanted the club to reopen.
"It seems to me the neighbors are being more than accommodating. You have to respect their privacy," Commissioner Matt Kamkar said.
Kamkar said the club's management needs to take things more seriously.
"This is a proverbial last chance," Kalra said. "This is not, in any way, to justify the flagrant violations that have occurred."
As club members clapped and whistled at the outcome, Commissioner James Zito said it was the people's testimony that made all the difference.
"I didn't do it for the management of the club," Zito said, "but for the people."
