HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/28/2025 Item 4b, Walker, K.
kathie walker <kathiewalkerslo@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, May 23,
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Re-review of CUP: Sigma Nu - 1304 Foothill Blvd
Dear Planning Commissioners,
Early this year, I learned that the Sigma Nu fraternity at 1304 Foothill Blvd would be re-
reviewed by the Planning Commission. I did not make this complaint to
Community Development, but am glad that the City is considering the negative impacts
of problem fraternities on the neighborhood.
Our family is not the only household affected by fraternities in our neighborhood.
Unfortunately, most residents are afraid to come forward because they fear retaliation
from fraternity members. This does not specifically apply to Sigma Nu but applies overall
to the fraternity culture and the experiences of many of the long-term residents in our
neighborhood. Therefore, I think it's important to mention.
Some residents have told me about the vandalism of their property and harm to their
pet that they suspect was caused by fraternity members, after they (two different
families) told the owner of the property about the problems caused by a fraternity, and
the fraternity's lease was not renewed. Some long-term residents are so intimidated by
fraternity members that they will not report loud parties to SLOPD because they are
afraid the fraternity members will know it was them and will retaliate. These are elderly
people, afraid to report the anti-social behavior of their neighbors.
One of my neighbors, two blocks away (near the Sigma Nu property) sent me a video
taken by his wife of a mob of young adults in front of his house on St. Fratty's Day,
3/15/2025. A college-aged guy walking by yelled at his wife, "Kathie Walker! MOVE!!" I
was in my home, two blocks away, and I am slightly older than his wife, but somehow
the guy assumed she was me.
I have been harassed and cyberstalked by fraternity members who lived next door after
SLOPD issued them a noise violation. After they moved out, the harassment continued.
As recently as one month ago, people showed up at our home late at night because they
were told there was a party at our address. A few weeks ago, a guy walked by our
home, said my name and called me a f--king bitch. These people have never met me or
interacted with me, but are targeting me because my husband and I have made the City
aware of the "fraternity problem" after a fraternity moved in next door to us in 2022. We
are not the bad guys. The fraternities have been operating illegally, with impunity for so
long that they now resent having to follow the rules.
Sigma Nu has a Conditional Use Permit at 1304 Foothill, but its history shows ongoing
noise complaints, citations, and a flagrant disregard for the conditions of its CUP. The
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reason a fraternity is allowed to operate in an R3 or R4 residential neighborhood is that
they have a CUP, and the fraternity members are expected to follow the conditions of
their CUP to blend into the higher-density neighborhoods.
A screenshot of the noise complaints for 1304 Foothill for the past 1 1/2 years is below.
Most of the citations at 1304 Foothill are for parties of 100+ people. The SLOPD Log
shows 100 people at the party on 11/1/2024, although the administrative citation issued
by Officer Cutler lists 300 people for that same party. A copy of the citation, shown
below, is included in Attachment 6 E - Notice to Correct Violations, dated 1/8/2025,
page 6. I'm not sure why the SLOPD log only lists 100 people when the citation says
300.
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The Notice of Violation sent to the property owner on 1/8/2025 outlines the violation of
the conditions listed in the CUP and the history of noise calls to SLOPD. Some of the
police reports say blaring music was heard 200 feet from the property, and alcohol
violations were observed by the police officers. The Notice sent to the property owner
says these violations constitute a public nuisance and must be abated.
About 6 weeks after the notice was sent on 1/8/2025, the fraternity continued hosting
large, noisy parties. Between the end of February 2025 and April 2025, there were four
loud parties at 1304 Foothill with 80-100+ people! The max occupancy according to
the CUP is 19 people.
The party on 2/22/2025 had 100 people listed on the citation.
This is the third citation in less than 9 months and carries a fine of $1,000. The City also
issues a fine to the property owner (I think it is also $1,000) with a "landlord citation".
Most people would be paying attention at this point because of the consequences. Sigma
Nu, however, did not care. Each subsequent citation within 9 months carried the same
financial penalty.
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Less than one week later, on 2/28/2025, the fraternity held another large, noisy party
with blaring music and received another citation that also listed 100 people.
Less than two months later, on 4/19/2025, they held another loud party with 80 people
listed on the citation.
The fraternity installed temporary fencing around the perimeter of its front yard on
2/28/2025 and 4/19/2025 to hide the view of its parties. Photos below show the fences
installed to hide the parties on February 28th and April 19th.
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Sigma Nu knew or should have known about the conditions listed in its CUP after the
City sent a Notice of Violation on 1/8/2025. They knew they were violating the terms of
the CUP and the noise ordinance by subsequently throwing enormous, loud parties. They
knew it was wrong, but they did it anyway, again and again. By their actions and
behavior, they have shown that they do not have any consideration for rules, the law, or
the impact of their actions on their neighbors. I can understand giving them one or two
chances, but they've had seven citations within the past 1 1/2 years. The parties were
huge and extremely disruptive, and they did not care about the consequences.
They got three citations for huge parties after the property owner was issued a
Notice of Violation! It's irrational to reward this behavior with approval of its CUP at
1304 Foothill. I do not understand why City Staff is recommending approval. The CUP
should be revoked.
Sigma Nu has another CUP for separate property at 1292 Foothill, so the fraternity has
the opportunity to prove it can be responsible by following the conditions of the CUP at
that property. They will still be able to operate from a different location. Unfortunately,
the fraternity has shown that it is not able or willing to abide by the conditions of the
CUP at 1304 Foothill, and I respectfully request that the CUP be revoked.
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Many other fraternities at Cal Poly do not have a legal location or a CUP. Only 6 of Cal
Poly's 18 fraternities have CUPs, and Sigma Nu has two for separate properties. Perhaps
a different fraternity would be willing to abide by the terms of the CUP and be better
neighbors. Or perhaps the property is better suited for standard housing since that area
of the neighborhood has a high concentration of fraternities, which have adversely
affected the neighborhood.
I also feel the property owners of fraternity houses should be held accountable for their
CUPs. Fraternities tend to pay a higher amount of rent because it is divided among
several people. Leasing to a fraternity is lucrative for these investors. They also have a
responsibility to ensure that their tenants are not causing mayhem in the neighborhood.
Finally, Cal Poly needs to start taking responsibility for its fraternities. The
neighborhoods cannot accommodate each of the 18 fraternities at Cal Poly. The
university is continuing to recruit new fraternities. Alpha Gamma Rho will be
reinstated next year, and Cal Poly recently announced that Phi Kappa Alpha will join Cal
Poly in Fall 2026. The neighborhoods cannot bear the burden of housing Cal Poly's
fraternities, especially when those fraternities are not able to follow the conditions of
their CUPs. Please hold them accountable.
Sigma Nu has demonstrated again and again that it is not able to abide by the
conditions of its CUP at 1304 Foothill or the noise ordinance. Please do not approve the
CUP.
Thank you,
Kathie Walker
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