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Home My WebLink About09-15-2015 Item 16 - PembertonFrom: "Jeremy Pemberton" <ieremy c.discoveryslo.conn> To: "E-mail Council Website" <emailcouncil e slocit,yorg> Cc: 'Bell, Kyle" <kbell@slocity.org> Subject: Council Hearing 9/15/15 - Discovery San Luis Obispo - Project Description with support letters Dear Mayor Marx and City Council: Please find attached a detailed project description that identifies types of uses and addresses questions from the community development department. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Jeremy Jeremy Pemberton managing partner Discovery I San Luis Obispo 1144 Chorro Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Direct: 805-252-1394 Email: Jeremy@di scoveryslo com<mai Ito: i eremyna d'rscoveryslo.com> SLO Website: http://discoveryslo.com Ventura Website: lett )://discover vetittira.com<htt 3://cliscover veiitiii'ti.com/> Discovery I San Luis Obispo Live Music. Bowling. Cocktails & California Cuisine. L—RECEIVED 15 2015 T-) r,t. ro o COUNCIL MEETING:�j ITEM NO.:__ �� -®IS�QiV�I"]I SAN 11115 i]Fi15@C) Project Description Use Permit Appication Addendum Discovery San Luis Obispo, L.P. - USE -1127-2015 1144 Chorro Street San Luis Obispo, CA Project Description - Discovery San Luis Obispo, L.P. Project Des&pfion Discovery IY ,. U 1 S 00I511(:� Discovery San Luis Obispo, LP a California limited partnership Discovery San Luis Obispo is a multi -platform entertainment destination that creates California -lifestyle experiences. All are welcome to enjoy the laid-back, fun and easy entertainment with 13 lanes of bowling, a locally -sourced restaurant with delectable California -Fusion cuisine, a concert hall designed for world-class entertainment performances, additional gaming areas including shuffleboard & billiards, karaoke rooms, and multiple private event areas for the region's most fun private event facilities. All uses, including restaurant, bowling, entertainment, and private event areas will be operational throughout all hours the business is open. The facility is designed with a multi-purpose, flexible layout — primarily to service Private Group / Corporate Rentals. The flexible layout provides for customized experiences for groups of all sizes and for all members of the community, including: non-profit events/fundraisers, small businesses political/election night parties, wedding receptions, Chamber events, kid's birthdays, reunions, awards ceremonies, holiday parties, and more. Group sales are the primary driver of Discovery's business model and holds highest priority in its overall design layout. A sample experience that is anticipated at Discovery San Luis Obispo on any given night includes: Wedding Reception: 220 guests seated at round tables for dinner with live band performing for them with a small dance floor in the concert hall. 25 Year High School Reunion: 125 guests exclusively using the second floor bowling lanes and gaming area with buffet style dining and beverage service. Birthday Party: 30 guests exclusively using the second floor lounge room with Karaoke and Billiards with full service food and beverage menus. Corporate Private Dinner and Presentation: 8 guests exclusively using the private dining room in the basement, using state-of-the-art video conference technology to conduct their international business meeting with clients in China. Comedy Club Night: 60 guests enjoying live entertainment in the basement area with a comedy club style experience. Chamber Mixer: 75 guests enjoying the main lounge and bar area for the monthly mixer. • Birthday Party: 12 guests enjoying the private lane and billiard area on the first floor. • General Public Use: 150 guests seated for dining experiences, 30 guests using the remaining 5 lanes on the first floor. Discovery San Luis Obispo Page 1 of 3 Project Description Substantial consideration has been used in the design of the main concert hall. Flexibility in uses remains a high priority in addition to the acoustical design. The concert hall portion of the facility design includes two sets of doors and vestibules separating the hall from the public and exterior. The building is constructed with solid concrete masonry, the most ideal material to mitigate noise issues. An extensive sound study has been conducted and the design adheres to the recommendations for acoustical design. The operation will comply with the noise ordinance. Additional Questions and Answers for the Community Development Department. Short description of how the Ventura location operates: The operation in Ventura has a perfect operating record with zero calls for police services (See letter attached from Ventura Community Development Director, Jeffrey Lambert). The facility is located in the heart of a residential neighborhood with 7 residential properties that directly touch the property line of Discovery Ventura. On average, the facility has 3 concerts per week, multiple private event rentals, and hundreds of patrons from the general public. How successful the security plan has been in the Ventura location: As previously mentioned, the Ventura facility has ZERO calls for service. The security plan is one the most critical pieces to the operation's success. Extensive planning with consultants, training, and strong relations with the police department keeps the facility safe and secure for the general public. The intent of the basement area: The basement area is designed to be used primarily for private event rentals. Additional uses include an office and administration area, as well as meeting the demands of artist hospitality requirements for national touring acts by providing a "green room" as well as a Meet and Greet area in the lounge area. Other uses may include Comedy Club, Open Mic Night, Private Membership events, and other entertainment experiences. The type of musical events and how often: Similar to the Ventura facility, all types of entertainment will be presented. The frequency is largely dependent upon the artists routing and touring schedule. A list of performances held at Discovery Ventura within the past 60 days include: -Los Lonely Boys - grammy award winning latin rock group -Jackie Greene - Americana Rock -Eric Hutchinson - singer -songwriter -Whitey Morgan - country •Katchafire - Polynesian reggae rock -Led Zepplica - Tribute Act -Dozens of Local Acts •Emmanual Jal - Roots reggae -Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Swing Discovery San Luis Obispo Page 2 of 3 Project Description The use of the concert venue area when no music event is schedule: The concert hall is designed to be used as a private event space that can service Wedding Receptions, Corporate Events, Awards Ceremonies, Non -Profit Fundraiser/Silent Auction Events, and an endless number of other types of community events. How the queuing line never get very long due to the other uses of the facility: Similar to the facility in Ventura, the venue is designed to attract and host patrons and fans inside the space before the show starts - this substantially reduces the line. Whether it's for appetizers and beverages, dinner, or a pre - show game of bowling; there's also after show activities with karaoke rooms, billiards, and late night dinner menu -- all designed to reduce high traffic impacts. List of all proposed recreational activities: Bowling, Billiards, Shuffleboard, Darts, Foosball, in addition to traditional board games in select areas of the facility, and karaoke rooms. Discovery San Luis Obispo Page 3 of 3 Project Description July 22, 2015 San Luis Obispo Planning Commission City Hall - 990 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Dear Planning Commissioners; Discovery Ventura is a positive and welcomed addition to the Ventura community. The operators, Jeremy and Joshua Pemberton, have proven their ability to provide high-quality, community - friendly entertainment experiences in a safe manner while mitigating noise and neighborhood impacts. The City of Ventura permitted Discovery without entertainment initially due to its location and unproven operators. However, during their first year, we allowed entertainment through 6+ temporary use permits. Through each of these events (some lasting multiple days) the operation was managed without any complaints. Jeremy and Joshua Pemberton took great care to run a terrific business without any impact to the surrounding neighborhood. Based on this excellent performance, the City later approved (through a hearing before our Planning Commission) an ongoing entertainment permit. Since this approval, Discovery continues to operation without complaints or calls for service. The staff and operations at Discovery Ventura have met or exceeded expectations in their ability to service nightlife entertainment. Located in the heart of a residential neighborhood, there were many potential risks related to njghtlife entertainment on this property. There have been zero calls for service and the operatora'are in good standing with the city. Please feel free to contaot'me at 805.658.4723 or jlambertCa_)cityofventura.net if you have any other questions. Sincerely, Jeffre' aert, AICP Co unity Development Director L.,y C: Derek Johnson, Community Development Director Lee Johnson, Economic Development Manager Doug Davidson, Deputy Director Community Development — Development Review Kyle Bell, Assistant Planner 501 Poli Street • P O. Box 99 . Ventura, California 93002-0099 + 805.654.7800 • cityorventura.net Printed on 100° Post conc_umei waste I)Inluf4 Greetings Commissioners: I encourage you to please approve the Discovery San Luis Obispo project as I support the continued growth of the Discovery entertainment concept. I believe it will provide your city with a type of specialized community event center that has both family -friendly and late-night entertainment experiences managed by proven operators. As a residential neighbor just a couple blocks away from the Discovery Ventura operation, I am able to frequent the facility often -- almost always with my husband and young kids. The operators have been excellent in adding value to this neighborhood. Prior to the redevelopment and renovation of Discovery Ventura's site, the property was a blight within the neighborhood and attracted undesirable activity which generated a consistent volume of calls for service. Jeremy and Joshua have been strong collaborators with our organization driving increased tourism and exposure to the marketplace. Collectively, our cities can receive mutual benefit from entertainment facilities within regional proximity of each other, and that are managed by operators with proven track records in the promotion and management of entertainment experiences on the Central Coast. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. Sincerely, 4 Marlyss Mungula ster Executive Director, Ventura VCB 101 South California Street • Ventura CA g30O1 • (805) 548-20775 • www.ventura-usa.com