Simi Planning Commission votes not to vote on Candlelight

Following a three-hour public hearing April 22, the Simi Valley Planning Commission decided not to make any decisions regarding an application by a popular local nightspot for a permit to allow amplified music and dancing.

After comments from 30 residents, the commission voted 4-1 to refer the matter of Candlelight Kitchen & Bar back to city staff so that the applicant could continue to work on finding solutions to neighbors' complaints.

A date to continue the hearing has not been set.

Keeping the commission from making a final decision were unresolved issues related to noise and traffic impacts on the residential community that surrounds Candlelight.

Nevertheless, Commissioner Tim Shannon said he believed Glen Gerson, developer and operator of The Vineyards/Candlelight, when he said the current problems can be resolved.

"I believe you can get these issues rectified, if you're motivated, in short order. And I don't think there is any neighbor that, if you truly rectify the issues, will stand in your way," Shannon said. "We need business in Simi Valley, but we don't need any business at the expense of our residents and that's the issue that I think needs to be resolved."

Commissioner Jim Dantona cast the dissenting vote, stating that he wanted to make a decision that night and not delay the project or potential mitigations further, especially since he expects that the City Council will appeal any decision the commission makes so that it could have the final say.

But the rest of the commission felt more work is needed to come up with a suitable solution.

On the east side of the city at 2525 Stow St., Candlelight is part of The Vineyards, an indooroutdoor event venue that sits on the 4acre hilltop site formerly occupied by Dakota's.

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.

During the meeting, residents—particularly those who live on Barnard Street closest to Candlelight—shared stories of having to pick broken alcohol bottles off their lawns and dealing with intoxicated people who park their cars and loiter in their neighborhood.

Simi resident Michael Moore said he gets the brunt of these problems because he lives on the corner of Barnard and Stow streets.

"A nightclub is just a festering pus sore that brings the wrong kind of people in the neighborhood," he said. "This is a residential neighborhood. This is the wrong place for a nightclub."

Moore and other residents said that they would like to see Candlelight close at regular restaurant hours.

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 also requesting approval to construct a 1,750squarefoot food preparation and storage area on the north side of the existing building.

According to Gerson's son, Garner, who is a part owner of Candlelight, the business has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars already in trying to reduce the club's impact on residents.

Both father and son expressed regret for the all negative comments from neighbors.

"I'm grateful to be in your city," Garner Gerson said. "I'd like to operate with the neighbors' support and (the commission's) support."

Simi native Chris Kim, who lives nearby, said he used to manage Dakota's and is a frequent patron of Candlelight. He said the nightclub is a good revenue generator for the city, especially in a bad economy, and he's noticed the improvements undertaken by staff.

"I think that Candlelight's making the effort and it should be acknowledged that they are making the effort to meet the requirements of the city and the neighbors," Kim said.

Candlelight has plans to build glass walls and water features to buffer the noise and to install insulation to the building's ceiling and walls to keep sound in. However, some commissioners were skeptical that the bar could meet the noise requirements so easily.

While Candlelight would also be conditioned to provide on-site parking and valet, the commissioners were concerned that increasing the parking lot from 176 spaces to 207 is still not enough.

The commissioners also discussed the idea of permit parking on Barnard Street and requiring bar guests to show valet passes upon entry as a way of keeping people out of the neighborhoods.

Though no decision was made, the commissioners clearly sympathized with residents.

"When you have a CUP, and you have residents that are going to be impacted by it saying 'no,' it's very hard to go against their wishes," Commissioner Keith Mashburn said. "Your nightclub operation, from what I've seen, is not compatible with a residential area."