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Health & Fitness

Cheap Shot!

The Sunset Room's application for an amendment to its conditional use permit.

Last week, I was singled out by one of my opponent’s strong supporters in the Acorn. I am an easy target because of my role as a planning commissioner for the past six years; I have a record. Historically, the residents of Agoura Hills don’t fall prey to last minute negative attacks, and I don’t think they will this year either. With that said, I feel compelled to tell you what really occurred at the hearing on the Sunset Room's application to amend its conditional use permit.

Every applicant is entitled to a fair hearing and planning commissioners should not make up their minds until they have had the opportunity to hear all of the testimony from the applicant and the public, and until they deliberate with the other commissioners. We should not, and are not, embarrassed to change directions during deliberations when new evidence is introduced that sheds light on what’s before us.

For public safety reasons, Commissioner Moses and I agreed that last call should be earlier than that proposed by staff (only three commissioners were present at the hearing.) The applicant came up to the podium a second time to respond to the earlier last call. He explained that no other establishment in Agoura Hills had a limitation on last call which was confirmed by Mike Kamino, Director of Planning. The applicant also pointed out that if we imposed this restriction, his patrons would leave his club to go to other establishments in town for last call, something that had not been considered. 

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It did not make sense for patrons to leave the Sunset Room with its extra security (approved by the Sheriff's Department) and extra valets to go elsewhere in the city for last call. The Planning Commission then approved the staggered last call proposed by staff and agreed to by the applicant.

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