SR 05:093 - Laserfiche WebLink

Mr. Roy Moret, owner of 739 Main Street, received a letter from his tenant of eleven years explaining why he chose not renew his lease when it expired on July 31, 2004. The former tenant wrote that, "The pub next door continues to be the one and only reason for our need to relocate our offices. The condition in the rear of the pub and in the parking lot remain unacceptable." Mr. A1 Bronzini, owner of 719 Main Street, also expressed concern over current opera- tions of the pub. Aside from innumerable bottles littering the back lot and frequent occur- rences of vomit and urine, his tenant often years does not like using the parking lot after dark because pub patrons loitering in the parking lot intimidate her. Due to safety con- ceres of his tenant, Mr. Bronzini installed a surveillance camera to monitor the back park- ing lot in the Fall of 2004. Current tenants at 735 and 739 Main Street expressed similar concems. Both tenants de- scribed vandalism to their property, having to clean up vomit and urine almost daily around their businesses, having their vehicles blocked by those of the pub's patrons, as well as being yelled to and sworn at by the pub's patrons who routinely loiter and drink alcoholic beverages in the parking lots behind 735 and 739 Main Street. One tenant ex- pressed particular concern to the number of drunken patrons who, while visibly stagger- ing, get in their vehicles and drive away. Mr. Nick Kaplanis, owner of 348 St. Mary Street, expressed his concern that even if someone else were to remodel the existing business or start a new business at 725 Main Street, the current clientele would continue to patronize the establishment and the current problems would continue. Although equipped with a full kitchen and conditioned to provide restaurant service (see Attachment 2 for the approved conditions of approval), the Union Jack Pub has failed to serve food for several years. As previously mentioned, at the time of approval there was strong opposition against allowing another bar to operate on Main Street. The applicant garnered support for the project through assurance that he would "run an 'upscale' local restaurant and gathering spot and not a local 'watering hole.'" Ultimately, based on the applicant's stated business goals, staff recommended, the PDA supported and the Com- mission approved the use permit with the condition that the restaurant not be ancillary to the bar. The project was supported and approved as being consistent with then draft Downtown Specific Plan goals, since "[R]estaurants attract customers to downtown and are complementary to retail businesses." Although not under the purview of the Planning Commission, it is relevant to mention that the Union Jack Pub is also in violation of its ABC license. Mr. Ressler received a type-47 restaurant license (no. 286857) in March of 1994. The license requires the recipi- ent to, "[O]perate and maintain the licensed premises as a bona fide eating place. [And] make actual and substantial sales of meals, during the normal meal hours that they are open, at least five days a week." Pub patrons parking in neighboring private parking lots bring to attention the use permit's third condition of approval. This condition is effectuated if the pub's patrons, "[Clause Item 6. a., UP-88-17 Review Page 5 of 12 February 23, 2005