Willow Glen Resident
News
Alano Club can reopen when noise problems are resolved
By Alicia Upano
Alano Club West can continue its 30-year practice of providing recovery services on Minnesota Avenue, since the San Jose City Council unanimously approved its conditional use permit.
The city council's vote upholds the planning commission's decision, which was appealed by two individuals from Willow Glen.
The permit imposes conditions on the club to reduce any negative effect on the surrounding neighborhood. The club will reopen after it completes several onsite improvements, such as reducing the deck size and constructing a soundwall.
The San Jose Planning Commission first approved the permit to reopen the club on Nov. 15, following an Oct. 31 closure that was ordered by the San Jose Appeals Hearing Board for operating without a permit. Noise complaints from Alano Club West's neighbors began in 2003, and the city sent the club nine compliance orders starting in 2004.
The planning commission's approval included a lengthy list of stipulations for the Alano Club and required the club to form an advisory committee to address ongoing or future problems. The two appellants, however, asked that conditions be more stringent.
Commercial property owner David Cayton was concerned about the club's use of the city lot, where many of Lincoln Avenue's customers park. Cayton said club members should use Alano Club's parking lot "to the maximum extent possible," according to city documents, and install equipment to track its usage. The planning staff, however, said the permit's language was sufficient.
Iris Court resident Chris Piekarski wanted the club to open later and close earlier. The club currently operates on a 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily schedule. Piekarski wanted a respite from the morning and evening noise. He also requested the deck be eliminated, stating this was a primary source of noise.
"The daily noise and cursing is a problem," Piekarski told the city council. "Don't leave the burden on the neighbors and code enforcement."
Originally, the planning staff agreed with Piekarski, after several Alano Club members stated at the November meeting that it was difficult to control how many people gathered on the deck.
The club attracts between 120,000 and 150,000 recovering alcoholics, drug abusers and their families annually, and the deck is frequently used for recovering addicts to meet with their sponsors, members said.
Then the Alano Club sent the city a 16-page letter on Jan. 5 offering to partially enclose the deck. The city council agreed to retain the deck with an enclosure but reduced its allowable square footage from 815 to between 300 and 500 square feet. Only 15 people will be allowed to gather on the deck between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays, and between 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on weekends.
Yet it was the club's hours of operation, and not the deck size, that concerned many members. City staff recommended changing the club's 6 a.m. meeting to 6:30 a.m.
Several club members said the 6 a.m. meeting was essential to their recovery, and allowed them to stay on the recovery path while still making time for work and their families.
"It's the earliest meeting in the valley, and to change it even by half an hour would be detrimental to its members," one club member said.
City council sympathized with the speakers and approved the club's request to open at 6 a.m.
Since its closure in October, members told the council that 12-step meetings have been taking place at a local restaurant, and attendance has dropped dramatically.
