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has maintenance problems, the Masons have always been accommodating and <br />allow the school children to use their bathrooms and facilities. He noted that they <br />generally get along very well; however, the problem arises whenever catered parties <br />are held at the Lodge, and the Church ends up cleaning up alcohol bottles in their <br />backyard and the parking lot the following day. <br />Rev. Culmer recounted that they had a pre-school Christmas program event planned <br />for the evening that the Lodge was having the “Naughty or Nice” party and that the <br />school had to cancel its program because the “Naughty or Nice” party had been <br />posted on the Internet, and people were coming from all over. He stated that he is <br />still hearing complaints from parents who are furious about the event being <br />canceled. <br />Rev. Culmer stated that he is interested in having a good neighborly relationship <br />again but that he was having some difficulty with some issues. He expressed <br />concern about the noise level and stated that he had made calls to police when <br />things have gotten out of hand. He requested that these particular types of parties <br />never be allowed to take place at the Lodge in the future. <br />Fred Schwartz, Masonic Lodge Board President, stated that they will conduct the <br />sound study but that he did not believe it would prove a lot because the re-creation <br />of their one mistake would need to be made, and he indicated that there would never <br />be another event of that type at the Lodge.With respect to Condition No. 1 of the <br />Conditions of Approval, he stated that they typically rent out the facility for weddings <br />and anniversary parties but do hold events such as art auctions or tool shows. He <br />requested that the language be tightened for that condition. <br />As regards Condition No. 2, Mr. Schwartz stated that they agree to do the acoustical <br />study; however, he believed spending any money for a professional consultant <br />would be extremely costly and is not necessary. He indicated that, as an alternative, <br />they had began discussions with a major building contractor who deals with <br />noise-related issues in high rise structures and that they expect to have a proposal <br />shortly, which they will share with the City. He noted that they have never been <br />cited for any noise issues in the past. He added that they have been recognized as <br />good neighbors since 1979, that they do not intrude on their neighbors’ peace, and <br />that by eliminating events as stipulated in Condition No. 1, the noise issues would be <br />eliminated. He stated that they do not accept any claims from neighbors concerning <br />excessive decibel readings due to the fact that they have not been provided with any <br />background calculations that take into consideration the ambient noise from Hopyard <br />Road at the time of each reading or any calibration data from the Radio Shack <br />decibel meter was used. <br />Mr. Schwartz continued that they concur with Conditions Nos. 3 and 4. With regard <br />to Condition No. 5, he stated that he did not believe St. Clare’s should have veto <br />power over any events at the Lodge; rather, they would continue to work closely with <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, March 25, 2009 Page 5 of 27 <br /> <br />