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On Tuesday, November 27, 2012, the South Gate City Council agreed to authorize the city attorney to protect South Gate’s interest in relation to any negative effect that could ensue from the presence of an alleged nightclub, that if approved would open on 10700 South Alameda Street, in Lynwood.
“Our neighboring city of Lynwood has a project that is too close to our community, ” said South Gate Vice-Mayor, Gil Hurtado, who cited drunk driving as an example of the several problems that could arise. “The negative impact that it would have on the west side is something that we cant sit back and let happen.”
Lynwood is currently entertaining a zoning action and conditional use permit application for a two story restaurant and banquet facility on the aforementioned address.
In an email authored by Steve Lefever, South Gate Community Development Director, which was provided to Patch by the South Gate City Council, the prospective Lynwood business is hoping to incorporate several amenities.
The email states that the facilities include a restaurant, banquet hall, dance floor, disc jockey area, a license to sell liquor, private security patrols and a large parking lot with about 261 spaces.
The email also stated that South Gate has until December 4, 2012 to submit any comments that it would like to see assessed in the imminent environmental review process of the business.
The South Gate Police Department (SGPD) also expressed concern over the opening of such an establishment.
The police also said that they are already familiar with the sort of negative spillover effects that will arise, because of what tended to happen several years ago as a result of El Farallon, a now defunct Lynwood nightclub.
“This will absolutely affect South Gate and the quality of life of residents,” said South Gate Chief of Police, Randy Davis during the meeting on Tuesday. “With respect to cruising and everything else you can think off.”
In an interview with Patch, Jonathan Colin, Lynwood’s Director of Development Services stated that South Gate did not have to worry.
Further adding that Lynwood city staff will be making recommendations to the planning commission that would ensure that the business does not operate like a nightclub.
“We have put some conditions of approval that very specifically prohibit a nightclub,” said Colin.
Among the specific conditions are meant to ensure the business stay within the parameters of a family oriented restaurant include that the premise not be advertised as a nightclub or leased to a promoter.
The staff will also recommend that it have limited hours of operation, prohibit it from having a cover charge, give it a more stringent type of liquor license and also restrict the type of music events that can be held at the establishment.
“We are requesting that it is treated as a sit down restaurant, ” concluded Colin.
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I do agree this club will affect our quality of life It taking
I've see the stuff that goes on at Lidos and the patrons that visit. Why doesn't South Gate shut them down? I'm sure they have reason to deny their business license.
When will people start to understand, we the community are the ones who suffer when a business like this opens in our communities. The revenues they bring do not compensate the cost of having Police, fireman and other agencies assist when there is a fight or a crime in their establishment. Additional, it affects our quality of life which should be the number one reason they not allowed a business like this to open in our communities Yes it's being presented as a Banquet Hall, but once it mysteriously turns in to a night club Mr. Colin himself will tell you the city is under a Crisis and they have no funds to deal with the problems the club will bring us. They will play the broken record, we have no funds and our Sheriff's department only deal with shootings and murders... Sorry for being sarcastic!
They must answer you! South Gate Council does even tho we can be pesky. They say this is part of their job as a public servant and I take them up on it. Virginia from South Gate. These our are neighborhood. Money coming in could be even more going out if we need to use our City resources.
The night activity these Clubs bring are indvs under the influence of alcohol, this contributes to violence, accidents, and cost to our City to keep Our Community Safe. Our Community has enough incidents as is we do not need to add additional. The Associates that want to open Clubs are related to same ones we had issues in past. They say they are bringing in one type of business once they are in the Community it is a different scenerio. We ask Our City Council to do what can be done on their part to address this issue and not have same issues we had in past.