Libertine Brewing Company can continue to host live music events, the city decided during an administrative hearing triggered by noise complaints.
San Luis Obispo decided to not revoke or make any major changes to Libertine Brewery Company’s minor use permit, which allows the venue to host live entertainment during designated hours.
On Jan. 8, Libertine received a noise violation after the city launched an investigation based on noise complaints regarding the venue. San Luis Obispo’s noise ordinance was created in 1996, and prohibits noise that is clearly audible from 50 feet from the source and property lines.
Brian Leveille, an administrative hearing officer for the city of San Luis Obispo chose to accept the city staff recommendation, which only has slight modification to the permit, according to the staff report at the meeting. Some of these modifications include more oversight on Libertine’s compliance with the noise ordinance. For the most part, nothing major will change about Libertine’s operations.
“In this case, after reviewing all of the available information and everything in the hearing, it just doesn’t appear that there is any evidence that there would need to be a significant modification,” Leveille said.
Residents or the Libertine have ten days to appeal the decision, according to Mallory Patino, the city’s community development assistant planner.
READ MORE: Noise complaint ignites debate over noise ordinance
A resident who made noise complaints, Chris Baisa, moved to San Luis Obispo with his husband about two years ago.
“Libertine has substantially lowered our quality of life,” Baisa said at public comment. “[It’s] made the reasonable expectation to live in peace impossible.”
Basia stated he and his husband have spent $70,000 to insulate their house in order to prevent sound from coming in. However, those efforts didn’t work.
Basia also accused Libertine Manager John Pranjic of “behaving in an aggressive manner” towards him and his husband. Basia’s husband, Tom Barnard, described an alleged physical altercation between John and himself, when he was trying to record audio of the venue.
Pranjic stated that he wasn’t in the area that the couple described. He claimed they would come to the Libertine patio in order to take audio decimals which measure how loud something is.
“Their allegations that they said, you know, that were aggressive towards them doesn’t really make sense to me,” Pranjic said.
Community turnout
Many city residents, from students to long time community members, showed up to this meeting and emphasized how much Libertine has meant to local musicians. Almost all of the about 100 seats in the city council chamber were filled.
“This is one of the only options that is possible for students to perform as if we shut down the Libertine, students will have literally no place to develop their career music, especially if you’re under the age of 21,” said Cleo Saxe, a Cal Poly student, during public comment.
Saxe, a political science freshman, noted not many other venues allow students under the age of 21 to perform in their venues. Other local musicians, like Roberto Monge, also pointed out that Libertine is one the only live music venues with consistent live music events that can hold large amounts of people.
“One thing people want to talk about is the eco system of venues you need as a musician,” Monge said. “So you start off playing really cheap… and you need the next stage so you need to bring 200 people.”
More than music, residents emphasized how much Libertine serves as a community hub.
“Libertine was the first place I ever played music live, and it kind of feels like a home for me there,” local musician Carl Zimbelman said. “It feels like a space where everyone can just live their happiest lives, playing music, listening to music, hanging out with friends.”
Some residential neighbors of Libertine also showed up in support of their local business.
“The events at Libertine appeal to a diverse type of people of all ages,” resident Ariawe Paul said. “It’s a really great and happy venue. I pass by since I live very close frequently and I never hear loud noises.”
Paul attends events at Libertine about once a month. Paul noted she chose the neighborhood she lives in six years ago because it is close to downtown and live events.
After the final decision was made regarding Libertine, Pranjic noted his gratitude towards the city.
“I couldn’t be more thankful for [Libertine staff] and also very thankful for the people from the city and all the different departments that chose to work with us in such a positive manner, and in my opinion, stuck behind what the community wants and deserves,” Pranjic said to a Mustang News reporter.
