As of 1 April, Scopa restaurant at 2905, 2907 Washington appears to have sketchy operating credentials.

James Pugh, attorney for Scopa restaurant, was asked what the status was for Scopa. “We are assessing the best way to proceed with the existing application or pursue other entitlement mechanisms,” was his answer.

The case went before Sue Chang, the zoning administrator, 20 March.   “It was cancelled due to lack of notice requirements,” according to Chang.

Scopa restaurant opened 14 November using a planning document called a 1981 exemption. Washington Group III, the new owners, felt they could increase square footage and number of patrons 20 percent using the exemption and the Planning Approval method. They wanted to increase the patrons from 100 to 120 and change square footage from 4000 to 5000.

Sue Chang told Scopa attorney during the hearing that Scopa had 146 seats during Planning’s on-site inspection.

Square footage is confusing because the restaurant at the time of exemption signing was 5000 and subsequently changed to 4000 with the extra 1000 rented for retail and out of the hands of the restaurant owner, F&S Restaurant Corporation.  But the new applicant, Washington Group III, on the application wants to go from 4000 to 5000 but shows 6250 on prints.

The 1981 exemption does not mention square footage but it does mention “not to exceed seating capacity of 100 persons” as a requirement that if not complied with voids the agreement.  Another one that would nullify the agreement is “anyone other than the above-named applicant (F&S Restaurant Corporation) be responsible for the management and control of the subject restaurant.”

Normal Way
Normally, owners will present new projects to Land Use and Planning Committee (LUPC).  When LUPC is finished vetting the project, it will go to the Venice Neighborhood Council with LUPC blessings or without LUPC blessings.  The Venice Neighborhood Council (VNC) then hears a project presentation followed by public comment.  After that, members of the VNC vote for or against the project.  The VNC for or against follows the project thru planning.

Scopa did none of the above.  They used the exemption, remodeled 5000 square feet, added 1250 square feet and then added 146 seats, the latter according to the zoning administrator’s staff.

Many are questioning why they are allowed to operate since they have clearly violated the exemption that supposedly allowed them to operate.

President of VNC Linda Lucks, in the absence of LUPC chair Jake Kaufman, who was on his honeymoon, asked the zoning administrator to hold the hearing open until the VNC could weigh in on it to no avail.  Several letters by neighbors were sent to the Council office to delay the hearing to allow VNC procedures to take place.

Lucks also asked Robin Rudisill, new member of LUPC, to attend the Scopa hearing. She subsequently has been given the Scopa case for LUPC.  For pertinent documents go to cityhood.org and put in the Scopa address.