Politics & Government

A Divided Council Remains Uncertain of Carlos Club Expansion

An uncommon review of the Planning Commission's approval is scheduled for the first week of April.

A bigger Carlos Club is still up in the air, as San Carlos councilmembers weigh whether it's a good idea.

The divided City Council voted Monday in favor of reviewing next month the Planning Commission’s approval of the Club's expansion.

“I think in this case we need a full vetting,” said Councilmember Ron Collins. “I’m not sure we’ve had a full vetting. I’d like to hear more from the police chief about his concerns. I’d like to hear all sides. I don’t think I’m ready to make a decision about it.”

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Carlos Club owner Fred Duncan, who was in attendance for the meeting, refutted police concerns and media reports that the club’s expansion would increase incident calls.

Duncan told the council of his club’s renovations and evolved image, the beautification award it received from the Chamber of Commerce, and the gourmet food the club will serve should its indoor-outdoor patio expansion be allowed.

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Some residents spoke about their fear of noise and crime incidents, while others spoke in defense of the club.

“In don’t think the Carlos Club is the cause of all the drama that’s being expressed in the last few meetings,” said one citizen 

In a one-year span, sheriff’s deputies were called to the Carlos Club 131 times which included two DUI’s, five drunk in publics, 69 police-induced spot checks, one verbal disturbance, statistics that have been a cause of concern for Police Chief Greg Rothaus, who has been outspoken about his opposition to the club’s expansion.

And yet, supporters and employees of the Carlo Club made their case to the council that those numbers are comparably small percentages of the overall numbers; numbers, they say, that have been unfairly engineered in newspaper reports to reflect problems that are not reality.

Supporters of the club’s expansion also pointed out several fundraisers – including those for multiple sclerosis and breast cancer – the club has been integral in.

“I look at what this person has been through starting in 2010 and then having three hearings with our Planning Commission,” said Matt Grocott, who was in favor of allowing the Club to move forward in its expansion under its one-year use permit that its been issued by the Planning Commission. “I think they do want to be good members of our community.”

The Council ultimately decided it needed more time to decide whether the expansion was the right move for its city and voted 3-to-2 in favor of reviewing the commission’s approval during the first meeting in April. Bob Grassilli and Matt Grocott were the no votes. 

How do you feel about the Carlos Club's expansion? Do you think what the city did was right? Let us know in the comments!


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