Allied Arts neighbors continue legal battle over guild permit Allied Arts neighbors continue legal battle over guild permit (September 22, 2004)

By Rebecca Wallace
Almanac Staff Writer

After a judge struck down their lawsuit against the city of Menlo Park over the Allied Arts Guild project in May, members of a neighbors' group have appealed the decision.

Speaking for the Allied Arts Neighbors, resident Kim LeMieux said the guild's new use permit allows too many special events that could harm the neighborhood with noise, parking shortages and other problems. The group is seeking a full environmental impact report to study the possible impacts on the area.

The lawsuit also names the guild and the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary, the group of volunteers who run the guild to raise funds for the Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.

The group, though, is not seeking a court order to keep the guild from reopening and has not opposed the two-year, $8 million restoration project at Allied Arts, Ms. LeMieux said.

The historic complex of shops, artists' studios and gardens is scheduled to reopen on October 4.

San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Quentin Kopp ruled against the neighbors on May 24, saying the city permit includes limitations on the number of guild events and that the guild and the city have worked in good faith to mitigate any fall-out from the events.

The neighbors, however, filed an appeal in the First District Court of Appeal on September 3.

The permit allows up to 43 evening events annually. Auxiliary volunteers had initially sought permission to hold 50 to 60 such events, saying they needed to expand to survive financially.

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