The owners of Q Cafe Billiards, the upscale pool hall and bar on Alma Street, hope to settle a noise dispute with downtown residents that has kept them from offering live music since August. The issue will go before the City Council on Monday.
Zoning Administrator Lisa Grote and the Planning Commission have both recommended approval of a live-music permit.
The matter went to the Planning Commission after residents of Palo Alto Plaza, a condominium complex at 685 High St., about a block away from the bar, appealed Grote's decision granting a permit.
"Staff's position is that this is an appropriate activity, as long as it is controlled, in a mixed-use area," Grote said. But the city is also recommending two dozen conditions, most of which are agreeable to Q Cafe, but some which the cafe would like to change.
Grote and the Planning Commission are recommending that a permit be granted allowing music on three nights only--Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
"We would like to have the opportunity to offer live music five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday," said Cheryl Young, Q Cafe's attorney.
Some of the other 24 conditions include litter removal around the establishment and that alcohol must cease to be served at 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and midnight on Thursday nights. Young said the bar would like to change the alcohol requirement so the bar could serve until 1:30 a.m. every night. Live music would be restricted from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Earlier this month, the Planning Commission also recommended another condition, that interior sound levels be monitored to keep them at 90 decibels or lower. Q Cafe had a temporary permit in December 1995, but when it expired last January the bands continued to play on, up until August, when Grote found out and pulled the plug.
"The owners are very frustrated," Young said. "They've gone out of their way to settle this matter without any cooperation. They have implemented a lot of noise reduction improvements in order to be good neighbors."
Remy Malan, the resident of Park Plaza who appealed the zoning administrator's decision, could not be reached for comment.
--Peter Gauvin
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