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Planning Commission revokes Lambda Chi Alpha’s conditional use permit after repeated noise and unruly‑gathering citations
Summary
The commission voted to revoke the conditional use permit for Lambda Chi Alpha at 1264 Foothill Boulevard after staff reported 10 police citations (nine noise, one unruly gathering), failure to secure required special‑event/transportation plans and roughly $7,750 in unpaid fees.
The San Luis Obispo Planning Commission voted Jan. 29 to revoke the conditional use permit for Lambda Chi Alpha at 1264 Foothill Boulevard after staff presented a record of multiple police citations, code‑enforcement actions and unpaid fees.
Assistant Planner Mallory Patino told commissioners the chapter had accumulated 10 police citations since the original approval in October 2024 — nine for noise and one identified as an "unruly gathering" — and that three of those citations occurred inside overlapping 12‑month periods that trigger rereview under the permit’s conditions. Patino said the fraternity had not applied for required special‑event permits or transportation plans for events that exceeded the site’s permitted gathering capacity, and that outstanding fees related to the original permit and this modification total about $7,750.
Code enforcement supervisor John Mezzapessa explained that an "unruly gathering" citation can be issued when responding officers determine an event of 20 or more people causes a substantial disturbance (noise, obstruction, public intoxication or similar behavior). The police department handles noise and unruly‑gathering citations and may assess fines higher than typical initial noise citations.
No representative for Lambda Chi Alpha appeared at the hearing. Commissioners discussed enforcement options and the limits of revocation; staff noted that revoking a CUP does not automatically evict residents and that operating as a fraternity without a permit remains subject to land‑use violations and code enforcement action.
Commissioner Cooley moved to adopt staff’s recommendation to revoke the CUP; the motion passed on a roll call vote.
What happens next: The permit is revoked as of the commission vote; the organization may pursue appeals or a future application for a new permit, but staff said outstanding fees and any additional enforcement actions remain possible.
