Concerned by a proposal to expand the banquet facilities at Candlelight Kitchen & Bar, about 20 residents showed up at a neighborhood council meeting Tuesday to vent their ongoing frustrations with the popular nightclub.

Located at 2525 Stow Street on the east side of the city, Candlelight is part of The Vineyards, an indoor-outdoor event venue that sits on the 4acre hilltop site formerly occupied by Dakota's.

Speaking before Neighborhood Council No. 4, Glen Gerson, developer and operator of The Vineyards/ Candlelight, gave a presentation on the proposed expansion.

He said problems with traffic and sound have arisen because of the club's success, but that he was receptive to residents' concerns and willing to make changes to improve Candlelight's relationship with the community.

"You all have the absolute right to the private enjoyment of your homes and we don't have the right to affect that," he said. "We are the ones who have stepped into your community and we have a responsibility to make it work."

Although management has made prior efforts to lessen noise, traffic and safety impacts, the new proposal was met with strong opposition.

Deborah Weckbacher said she and her husband, Gary, had a potential break-in at their Barnard Street home about six months ago and have called the cops on many occasions due to the conduct of Candlelight patrons.

"We've had people coming from your establishment urinating on our lawn, partying in their cars, (using) drugs, (throwing) paraphernalia up and down the street," she said.

Others shared similar stories of having to pick up trash left in front of their homes or dealing with intoxicated people who park their cars and loiter on Barnard Street, just north of the restaurant.

Situated in a residential area, Candlelight has a history of neighborhood complaints. To the south is Indian Oaks Apartments and across the 118 Freeway to the north are single-family homes.

Due to a high number of noise complaints last year as well as a hit-and-run involving a parked car in November, the city told Gerson he had to apply for a conditional use permit (CUP) to allow for amplified music and dancing.

Gerson is now requesting approval to construct a 1,750squarefoot food preparation area on the north side of the existing building.

Kevin Sherbrooke, an architect on the project, said because the site does not have sufficient parking the proposal would expand the lot from 176 spaces to 207; city code requires 156.

"The more parking you have on site, the less likely they are going to go into your neighborhoods," Sherbrooke said.

While most of the residents who expressed concern live on Barnard Street, Indian Oaks resident Phillip Scott Wallace said he too is fed up with hearing loud music late at night.

"Your establishment is absolutely incompatible with this neighborhood," Wallace said. "For you to play your music at the level you care to play it absolutely requires the use of my air space inside my home. There's just no getting around that."

A noise study was prepared for the project and Gerson has agreed to implement recommended mitigation measures to keep noise within acceptable levels, said Lauren Funaiole, an environmental planner for the city.

"They're going to do a lot of improvements inside to the ceiling and the walls to insulate the building better," she said.

Funaiole said the study—which measured noise levels with and without music— showed that Candlelight is technically in compliance with the city standard. However, the increase in noise level when music is playing is so significant that the city is requiring the restaurant to take further steps to shield residents, she said.

The CUP would also include conditions allowing the city to monitor the noise situation after the project is completed and further limit noise levels if necessary.

Actions the management has already taken to try to mitigate negative impacts include installing a "No left-hand turn" sign at the restaurant's exit, providing valet service, designating Simi Valley High School as an overflow parking lot, implementing a "no walkins" rule and hiring security guards.

Unfortunately, these measures have not been completely successful. Residents like Mike Moore said they simply do not think the nightclub is a good fit for the area.

"Granted, I want you all to make a living. I want everything to go well, but I don't want the crap in my front yard," Moore said, adding that his driveway is often used as a turnaround by clubbers.

Simi florist Karen Thornton, however, sees the need for an event location.

"So many of our brides have to go to Malibu, Moorpark and Burbank," she said. "We really need to be able to keep some of our local weddings and events in our community so we can keep our tax revenue here."

At the end of the hearing, the neighborhood council voted to recommend approval of the CUP for amplified music and dancing with the condition that additional parking be constructed on the southeast corner of the site.

The council also recommended that Candlelight make further efforts to mitigate noise.

Gerson said he's committed to resolving residents' issues.

"I believe we can mitigate all this because we've done it before" at other properties, he said. "We either prove that we can do it or we shouldn't have the right to operate or continue."

The proposal will go before the planning commission on Wed., April 22.