ALAMEDA — A restaurant planned for Park Street will have a patio just feet from neighborhood residents, some of whom had opposed the outdoor gathering spot by pointing out the constant chatter of diners would be a nuisance.
The patio will be behind the future Spinning Bones restaurant at 1205 Park St. near San Jose Avenue. It won’t be seen from the street and will be buffered from passing cars. But it won’t be screened from tenants in apartments directly overlooking and surrounding it.
Cari Lee Donovan told the Alameda Planning Board, which approved the patio on Sept. 9, that she lives just 11 feet from it.
“The windows of my bedroom, all of them, the window of my kitchen, the only one, and the windows of my living space all look directly into the patio,” Donovan said.
To demonstrate that the restaurant’s plan to prevent noise by limiting patio seating to 15 customers wont’ work, Donovan asked the same number of people to stand behind her and all chat as she addressed the board.
“It’s going to be very difficult for me to live my life,” Donovan said.
Heather Quinones, who moved into an apartment above the future restaurant with her husband in December 2018, said the construction noise that began nine months ago to transform the former photography studio into Spinning Bones “significantly impacts our quality of life.”
And, she added, “had we known it was going to be a restaurant, we would not have rented the apartment.”
About a dozen residents attended the Planning Board meeting to oppose the patio.
Mike Yakura, a partner in the restaurant, told the board he was willing to work with neighbors to resolve any issues and empathized with them over the construction noise.
“It’s been an arduous process, absolutely,” Yakura said.
But he noted the restaurant can help revitalize the neighborhood and will provide more food options for residents and city visitors.
“It’s more of an option to extend our dining portion to the outside,” Yakura said about the 480-square-foot patio. “And to give the people of Alameda a unique dining experience.”
Just when Spinning Bones will open was not available.
“A rotisserie concept” is how the business describes itself on Facebook. “Hawaiian barbecue meets Boston Market. Counter service. Eat in or take out. Catering and party platters. A family restaurant for Alamedeans by Alamedeans.”
City officials recommended the board approve the restaurant’s request to open the patio, saying it would be compatible with the neighborhood. The Club House bar is immediately next to the restaurant.
But officials suggested no live or amplified music be allowed on the patio, any lighting be designed and situated to spare residents, and the patio be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Its permit would be automatically revoked after three confirmed violations.
The board voted 4-3 to approve the conditions, though it reduced the hours the patio can be open to 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and required that the operation return in a year for review.
Opponents have 10 days to appeal the decision to the City Council.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2019/09/21/new-east-bay-restaurants-proposed-patio-isnt-a-hit-with-neighbors/ 2019-09-21 13:37:00Z
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