CCMIN102098 - Laserfiche WebLink

Ralph Levy, 6637 Amber Lane, felt Mr. Oliveira was one of the most respected business owners in the City of Pleasanton. He said Mr. Oliveira has taken down the banners, neon signs and mitigated all but the noise issue. In regards to the noise, Mr. Oliveira has put in door stops so the doors will not remain standing open. He said the only noise that can be heard now is the traffic noise from Ray Street. He requested the City Council approve the conditional use permit or at least provide a six month final permit. Christopher Lux, 35 Lawton Court, San Ramon, supported the martial arts school at its present location. He said martial arts teaches respect and honor and is very beneficial to the students. He said Council has been elected to enforce the standards of this community and to have discipline and justice. He felt that justice would best be served in allowing this school to continue. He said the school is mitigating the noise and he has never had a parking problem when he attends the school. He read the creed that the school follows and that the students read each time they attend class. Jeffrey Tomasich, 12995 Hawkins Drive, San Ramon, said the worth of honesty, the discipline of struggle, the rewards of cooperation are just three of the many values he has been encouraged to practice in his daily life. He is ten years old and has been attending the West Coast Fong school since the age of five. He partly attributes his accomplishments to integrity, focus, respect and confidence modeled by the school. He strongly urged the Council to grant the school a conditional use permit so others may benefit too. Linda Adams, 159 Ray Street, said shortly after the West Coast Fong school opened in the Adobe Plaza she experienced an increase in the level of noise and traffic. She visited the school and was impressed with the teachings. She explained the situation to Mr. Oliveira, who at the time was not willing to make any changes. She contacted his landlord and received a vulgar response. After trying to deal with the situation on a friendly and neighborly basis with no results, she contacted the City. She understood city staff tried repeatedly to talk to Mr. Oliveira. She is not questioning the value of the teachings but rather the issue of whether this business belongs in a mixed residential area. She researched other martial art schools and discovered most are in industrial areas with residential homes a full city block away. West Coast Fong was a perfect example when it was located in the Oakhill Shopping Center. Martial art studios do not belong in a mixed residential area, especially on Ray Street, where there is already too much noise and traffic. She was happy to report the banner and neon signs have been removed and Mr. Oliveira has taken effective steps to control the noise. She has received a letter from him expressing an apology for not taking her concerns seriously. But Mr. Oliveira cannot control what the kids do in the parking lot between classes or the dangerous situation created from the children running to and from their parents' cars. She wondered why none of the corrective steps were taken until after the Planning Commission denied his application. She feared that if the Council overturned the Planning Commission's decision there will be further violations of the code and lack of respect for the rules. She respectfully requested that the Council uphold the Planning Commission's decision and deny the appeal. Pleasanton City Council 10 10/20/98 Minutes