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Smoking <br /> The Finches had complained to staff last year about Redcoats' customers smoking in front of <br /> their building. As a result of this complaint, staff had worked with the Finches, the applicant, <br /> and the property owner of the Redcoats building to have a "smoking bench" with ash/cigarette <br /> butt receptacle installed on the west side of the Redcoats building. Redcoats' staff was to direct <br /> smokers to use this area. These requirements were included as a condition of approval of <br /> Redcoats' front outdoor dining area (see condition no. 9 of the attached letter, Exhibit J). When <br /> staff informed Ms. Kennard about the Finches' recent smoking complaint, Ms. Kennard <br /> indicated that it is difficult to control smokers after they leave the building. In addition, she <br /> indicated that the cigarette receptacle was recently stolen. Ms. Kennard stated she has been <br /> recently directing patrons to smoke in the outdoor dining area on the east side of the building. <br /> Staff informed Ms. Kennard that smoking is not allowed in outdoor dining areas and reminded <br /> her that the smoking area was located on the western side of the building in order to minimize <br /> smoke and noise impacts on the Finches. Staff requested Ms. Kennard to replace the cigarette <br /> receptacle and to direct customers to use this area for smoking. The applicant agreed and this <br /> item has been included as a condition of approval. Staff acknowledges that it can be difficult to <br /> control smokers once they leave the building and that smokers can legally smoke on the public <br /> sidewalk as long as they are a reasonable distance (generally 20 feet or more) from building <br /> entries to ensure that smoke does not enter the building. However, staff believes that the <br /> applicant should make reasonable efforts to encourage smokers to smoke on the west side of the <br /> building and to request smoking customers to be quiet while going to and from the smoking <br /> area. <br /> Noise <br /> Redcoats currently has live bands and DJ music for patrons to listen and/or dance to on Friday <br /> and Saturday nights and the applicant would like to expand the DJ music and dancing to <br /> Wednesday and Thursday nights. Musical equipment and speakers are located in the rear left <br /> corner of the lower first floor (next to the fireplace) and are oriented to direct music towards the <br /> front of the building. The applicant monitors the noise level to ensure that the music is not too <br /> loud. <br /> Staff notes that there have been occurrences in Pleasanton where bars impacted adjacent <br /> residences, with noise impacts being the most common problem. Several conditions were <br /> included with the original use permit to address potential noise impacts on the surrounding <br /> residents and businesses. For example, a condition required the building walls be modified to <br /> ensure that the City's noise regulations could be met. In response to this condition, the applicant <br /> installed sound reducing resilient channels in the exterior building walls as part of the tenant <br /> improvements. Also, the doors of the establishment must remain closed except when being used <br /> for ingress /egress purposes and the doors must be self closing. In addition, the windows must <br /> remain closed during business hours. The applicant has indicated that the only time the eastern <br /> Page 7 <br />