(Rendering of Whaler with proposed downstairs patio and awning was provided courtesy of Rudy Alegre, architect.)
Note: The resolution established at the meeting Tuesday has not been resolved as of this time. Article will be revised as the facts become available.
A full house heard the Land Use and Planning Committee discuss the Whaler’s request to serve alcohol on the sidewalk patio last Tuesday at the Terrace Restaurant on Washington at the beach.
It was stated that the Whaler’s approval of the request would not increase the 214 capacity, and as former owner Barrie Harnet stated, “It is the natural extension of growth.”
The exact number of seats in the patio bounced around but it was confirmed that number would be 36 and that would include the seats accommodating takeout. There is a proposed awning that many feel would buffer some of the sound and would also move people off the top balcony. The present owner plans to provide more sound proofing. A parking variance is provided. However, the owner had not completed negotiations with the local elementary school for the hours the school does not use the spaces, so no binding document was produced. Hours for the patio were discussed.
Robert Aronson, member of LUPC, said that a one-year review would be good idea to make sure that “what people say is what people do.”
Many employees and local businessmen were there to support the case for the Whaler. Residents were there to tell their stories too.
Residents complained of the noise and the nuisance activity long past their bedtimes, and in some cases, the destruction of private property by drunks. One resident, who lives one block from Washington on Pacific, told of her fence being hit by drunk drivers from the Whaler. One told of how one drunk had damaged her fence when he was on foot. Drunks, they all claimed, walked the walk streets creating noise and damage. One resident had camera footage tracing drunks to Whaler and footage of other problems with drunks one block from Whaler in the residential area. One resident, who also lived one block from Washington, said she had contacted the security people frequently but that the problems had not stopped.
Clabe Hartley, head of security for the newly formed Washington Square Business organization, said they were using walkie talkies to prevent some who had had too much to drink from entering another bar, to notify others of impending security problems. He also said they are getting an LAPD policeman to park his car in area and walk the block four to five nights a week.
Hartley was also happy to report that 80 percent of the vagrants had recently left Washington Square which he said was a plus.
One man mentioned that residents in the surrounding area were the bread and butter for the Whaler. “We don’t want to lose them. Security cameras have been increased. We have put in more insulation to help with noise. We feel that moving many of the upstairs balcony people to the downstairs patio will help with noise.”
Some were concerned that the awnings would be retracted at night. A Whaler representative said it would behoove them to keep the awnings covering the downstairs patio at night because of the cost of the heating gas and the expense of replacing the heaters. According to the representative, the gas for each heater is very expensive, and because of the ocean breeze, heaters do not last long, and they are expensive.
For a complete recording of the hearing, go to the LUPC page on the VNC website: http://www.venicenc.org/committees/lupc/
The meeting recording is near the bottom of the webpage, just before “Reference Materials for VNC & LUPC Meetings,” and the April 28, 2015 LUPC Meeting is at the bottom of the recordings list.
The VNC Board is expected to hear the case and vote on the final Venice Neighborhood Council recommendation to the City May 19th, 7 pm, at the Westminster School.
