The San Luis Obispo Planning Commission voted 4-2 to uphold and amend Cal Poly fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi’s permit Wednesday following numerous noise complaints from neighboring residents.
The planning commission primarily added and revised conditions that will encourage better relations between the fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) located at 280 California Blvd., and neighboring residents.
“Sometimes [my husband] had to call out sick from work because of the fraternity noise,” said Kathie Walker, a resident who lives 500 feet from AEPi’s house. “That’s been difficult on our family.”
The fraternity must limit gatherings to 25 people without an event permit, extend quiet hours to 9 a.m. and improve communication with neighbors, according to Associate Planner Hannah Hanh.
If the fraternity receives three citations within any 12 month period, they must attend another re-review meeting with the planning commission, according to Hanh.
The two dissenters, Vice Chair David Houghton and Commissioner Justin Cooley, stated they believe the revisions are not strict enough on AEPi and will not dissuade fraternity members from acting similarly in the future.
“I feel that if we adopt the resolution as proposed with the conditions as proposed, that we are just kicking the can down the road,” Houghton said. “We’re saying, ‘Well if you do it three more times, then this time we really mean it.’”
AEPi President and psychology senior Adam Wechsler apologized for the fraternity’s past actions and highlighted their philanthropic events and involvement in the local Jewish community.
“Those past noise complaints and violations that we’ve received in the last year are not indicative of our values, and we would like to take full accountability,” Wechsler said. “As we’ve moved into this new academic year, our chapter and our chapter leadership have made a serious effort to build on what we consider to be a successful start to this new year.”
The commission tried to create peace between Greek life and San Luis Obispo residents, Houghton said. However, the tension is part of a larger issue in Cal Poly’s lack of a Greek row, Houghton explained.
“[AEPi happens] to be in the hot seat at the moment, but it’s sort of a rotating hot seat because these things keep bubbling up,” Houghton said. “It’s part of a larger issue, and it’s part of the fabric of the city that’s creating friction.”
The commission remains determined to find a long term solution to help put both fraternity members and local residents at ease.
