Neighbors continue to press Allied Arts Guild lawsuit Neighbors continue to press Allied Arts Guild lawsuit (August 24, 2005)

In April 2003, Allied Arts Neighbors, a group of residents living near the complex, sued the guild's owners and volunteers, and the city of Menlo Park.

The group asked for a full environmental impact report for the auxiliary's plans for the guild.

In May 2004, San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Quentin Kopp ruled against the lawsuit. In his opinion, he wrote: "The city, Allied Arts, and the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary have acted with palpable care, consideration and scrupulous conformance with state and city statutes and ordinances."

On September 3, 2004, Allied Arts Neighbors filed an appeal in the First District Court of Appeal, continuing to seek an environmental impact report.

The appeal is still pending, according to Libby Russo, president of the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary.

The plaintiffs, Allied Arts Neighbors, have requested oral argument, which means attorneys for both sides will present arguments in front of a judge.

The date has not been set for the appeal, but "we're told it will be sometime this fall," says Ms. Russo.

Kathy Parker, a member of the Allied Arts Neighbors group, says an environmental impact report on the entire property has never been made.

"We are concerned about present and future uses of the property and renovations that might be made in the future," she says.

Ms. Parker lives across the street from Allied Arts. When asked if she had encountered problems since the guild reopened, she says, "There hasn't been any major stress for me, but I can't speak for other neighbors."

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