Letter to San Mateo County Board of Supervisors

Below is an email sent to our Board of Supervisors by one of our residents:


to:    (San Mateo County Supervisors)  rosejg@co.sanmateo.ca.us,
 atissier@co.sanmateo.ca.us,
 dhorsley@co.sanmateo.ca.us,
 cgroom@co.sanmateo.ca.us,
 dpine@co.sanmateo.ca.us
cc:      wgibson@co.sanmateo.ca.us

date:    Mon, May 7, 2012 at 11:40 PM

subject:         Environmental Impact Report and BACE

Dear Board Members;

I am writing to all of you hoping you can help resolve this situation.

There is a business, Bay Area Catering & Events (BACE), located at
3821 Fair Oaks Avenue, that was approved to operate in the
neighborhood but does not serve its neighbors. If anything, BACE has
ruined the neighborhood charm, and caused many neighbors documented
stress and other health-related issues due to the nature of BACE's
business, it's operating hours, and its close proximity to the
neighbors.

BACE, as you can see on its website ( http://bacevents.com/ ), "is now
a company with a staff of over 45 talented and passionate
employees ... service range from small intimate parties to large
events for more than 5,000 people, including weddings, conventions,
fundraising events, banquets, social parties, corporate parties and
special events." BACE lists its address in Sunnyvale; not Menlo Park.

In November 2011, the Planning and Building Department conducted a
comprehensive Environmental Impact Report. If you go to 12. Land Use &
Planning, you will find the following on page 12-3:

Neighborhood Commercial: This designation is intended for neighborhood
commercial uses where there is a demand for neighborhood commercial
services; a variety of compatible commercial uses can be concentrated;
convenient automobile access, parking facilities and other
improvements can be provided; or next or close to major transportation
routes but not in long, continuous strips or isolated locations.

On page 12-4, you can see the NFO map, which designates 3821 Fair Oaks
as "Neighborhood Commercial".

BACE is NOT "intended for neighborhood commercial uses where there is
a demand for neighborhood commercial services" since BACE is a
catering business and serves customers throughout the Bay Area.

Furthermore, BACE is zoned as "C-1" and according to the Zoning
Regulation, "SECTION 6253.5. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. 5. Trash and
Debris. All trash, boxes, or similar debris shall be picked up daily
and stored in refuse containers that are screened from public view."
Clearly, the neighbors can see all three refuse containers, which are
not "screened from public view."

SECTION 6252. YARDS REQUIRED (b) 3. There shall be a rear yard of at
least six (6) feet along the rear of every lot in a “C-1” District,
which rear is bordering on property in any “R” District." BACE is
zoned as C-1 and the homes around it are zoned R-1. 3821 Fair Oaks Ave
does NOT have "six (6) feet along the rear."

In summary, BACE is TOO LARGE to operate its 45-employee business in
our small neighborhood. It serves corporate clients and events in the
entire Bay Area; not the North Fair Oaks neighbors. The property is
NOT in compliance with two zoning regulations.

Due to the health and compliance issues documented in this email, I
ask that you place a HIGH priority on this issue. Please let me know
if I and the North Fair Oaks neighbors can help accelerate the
resolution of this issue. Thank you.