Antonio's gets a reprieve Antonio's gets a reprieve (March 12, 2004)

Bar has four months to clean up its act

by Don Kazak

Antonio's Nut House, a popular bar on California Avenue frequented by night-owl Stanford students, will have four months to prove it can be a good neighbor.

The city's Planning and Transportation Commission voted 3-1 Wednesday night to impose new operating conditions on the bar aimed at reducing late-night noise by its patrons. The City Council still must approve those conditions.

The noise from boisterous bar customers when they mingle outside before going home bedevils residents of the nearby Birch Court condominiums, some of whom are forced to sleep using earplugs.

"It's a bar with some attitude," said Commission Chairman Michael Griffin. "I'm not saying it is a good attitude or a bad attitude, but it's part of its persona."

But the new conditions don't shorten the bar's hours - it is open until 2 a.m. seven nights a week - dismaying unhappy neighbors.

The commission tried to find a compromise between keeping a popular Palo Alto business open and finding some relief for exasperated neighbors. But the commission also put the bar's owner, Tony Montooth, on notice that his use permit could be revoked if the bar doesn't quiet things down.

The commission recommended a four-month review of the bar's late night disturbances, once the City Council approves the conditions.

The noise has been a consistent bane to the condominium residents, who often call police to complain about late-night disturbances.

"I wear earplugs (late at night), I use ambient noise, and some of my neighbors have installed triple-pane windows," said Birch Court resident Lisa Habbeshaw.

In response to such concerns, Montooth has been handing out fliers to his customers asking they be quiet when leaving the bar.

"Obviously, it looks like Mr. Montooth is doing everything in his power to address the so-called complaints of a relative few," said Larry Hassler, a bar patron.

Another Antonio's customer, James Mason, said he and his wife bought a house nearby to be close to the bar. "They're doing everything they can," he said, noting the bar is busiest after midnight.

The commission wrestled with finding a middle ground, realizing not everyone would be satisfied. Commission member Pat Burt voted against the recommendation, saying the bar should close at 12:30 a.m. on weeknights.

Besides being up for review in four months and facing possible revocation of the use permit, the bar will also have to comply with several other conditions:

*Food will have to be served, both as a full restaurant and with a late-night menu. The bar's original 30 year use permit was for alcohol service to be accessory to its permit as a restaurant. But as Burt pointed out, Antonio's has long since become much more a bar than a restaurant.

*Bar representatives will have to meet with members of the Birch Court Condominium Association twice a year, at the association's request, to discuss late-night noise disturbances.

*A telephone number of the bar's late-night manager must be available to residents to call when they hear disturbances.

*The bar must take steps to educate its customers about the noise problem.

John Abraham, another Birth Court resident, called the city's conditions "a gift to Mr. Montooth."

Griffin noted that "it behooves business owners to realize that it's not like it was 30 years ago." He said the bar needs to "get along with its neighbors, who will be looking over their shoulders."

"I think we came up with a good compromise," said Commission member Bonnie Packer. "I hope there will be viable results, with less noise to bother the neighbors."

No date has been set yet for final City Council action.

Don Kazak can be e-mailed at dkazak@paweekly.com

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