HomeMy WebLinkAbout5_28_2025 Item 4a & 4b, Anonymous (2)To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Re-Review of Fraternity CUPs
Planning Commissioners,
I’mwriting to urgeyoutodenytheconditional usepermitsforthe fraternitiesat 1236 Monte
Vista and 1304 Foothill. These properties, and other fraternities operating nearby, have made
itdifficult toenjoy the weekends. They have loud parties without any consideration forhow it
affects others. They have ignored warnings andcitations andhave shown that they are not
responsible enough toabide by the conditionsoftheir use permits.
Ilive inthe Alta Vista neighborhood with my husband andour two young children. Noisy
fraternity parties often keep us awake. We can hear noise coming from parties along “Frat
Row” and other areas of our neighborhood pretty much every weekend during the school
year, day andnight. We hear andsee groups ofpeople walking by, looking for the parties. It
has affected my family’s ability tosleep at night or enjoy being outsideinthe yardduring the
day.
Igraduated from Cal Poly about 15 years ago andcurrentlyteach therewhile also working a
full-time job. While Iwas acollege student, Ihad parties and attended partiesandwas aware
ofhowmybehavior affected my neighbors. The police also patrolled the neighborhoods near
campusand were more aggressive with enforcement. Things have gone off the railssince
then and there islittle enforcement ofpeople walking around with alcohol, screaming, and
being anuisance. The crux ofthe problem isthe fraternities in residential neighborhoods,
permitted and unpermitted.
Item 2.1ofthe Staff report, Consistency with the General Plan / Zoning Regulations, saysthe
fraternity useisconsistent with Land Use Element 2.6.5andHousing Element Policy 8.5.
2.6.5says: “The City shall work with Cal Poly to develop aproposal to
locatefraternitieson campus for consideration by the CSU Board. Iflocations on
campus cannot be provided, fraternities andsororitiesshouldbe limited tomedium-
high andhigh-density residential areas near the campus.”
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8.5says: “Locate fraternities and sororities on the Cal Poly University campus. Until
that ispossible, they shouldbe located inMedium-High and High-Density residential
zones near the campus.”
Ido not believe the General Plan meant for thecity’sneighborhoods toserve as Cal Poly’s
Greek Rowinperpetuity. Itwill never be “possible” tolocate Greek life on
campusuntilthecity takes astand to compel Cal Poly todo something.
The only solution isfor Cal Poly toprovide housing accommodation forits fraternities on
campus, away from neighborhoods. The lifestyles inaresidential neighborhood and Greek
life are notcompatible. To thatend, the city should be seeking asolution by pressuring Cal
Poly toprovide housing for its Greek houses on campusand notallowingthe neighborhoods
tobecome the default Greek Row.
Meanwhile, the Planning Commission shouldrevoke theuse permits for 1236 Monte Vista
and 1304 Foothill because they haverepeatedlynot followed the conditions of theuse
permits. Ifsomeonegets aticket for driving120 MPH, theypay afine andcouldlose their
license. Those are theconsequences ofunsafe andillegal actions. Here, the fraternitiesare
paying the fineand continuing tobreak the laws without anysense of
responsibility. They’veshown they don’t respect the law orthe neighborhood. Their attitudes
continue tobe that they “deserve” tohave parties and the college experience and they are
paying alot tobe here. They are only here for afew years, so they tend tocaremore about
their experience while incollege than the long term residentswho callthis area home. While I
agree they should be able toparty andhave fun, they should certainly be more considerate of
the neighborhood and either have events on campus or atavenue that supports that use. As
relatively short term residents, the fraternity members aren’tincentivized tofollow the rules
since theywill be gone by the time there are any real ramifications.
My family isactively looking toleave the neighborhood, but inthe meantime we continue to
be impacted. Itmakes me especially sad for my neighbors who have lived inthe
neighborhood their entire lives and are too old touproot everything and move. I’mhoping that
by denying the use permits, itwill force Cal Poly toseriously look atimplementing aGreek
Row on campus rather that continuing tomake itan issue for the City and residents todeal
with.
The Clerk may provide you with my email soyou cancontactme ifyou need more
information. Ido not want to bepubliclyidentified because Iam afraid ofretaliation by
fraternity members, which hashappened toseveral people inthe neighborhood already. I
also don’twant tobe negatively targeted by members as itrelates tomy employment atCal
Poly.
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Thank you,
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