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Time for church, neighbors to get along, city says

By Michele Tjin

City leaders told members of a Saratoga church and surrounding neighbors that it's high time they put past grievances behind them, start communicating and act neighborly.

At a Sept. 19 public hearing, residents living near the St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church, 18870 Allendale Ave., hoped that the Saratoga City Council would come down on their side and repeal a past planning commission decision affecting the church. Last June, planning commissioners voted to modify the church's use permit. Neighbors had complained about noise and parking issues and said the conditions set in the commission's use permit were ambiguous and unenforceable. However, council members ultimately denied the appeal and upheld the commissioners' decision.

An overwhelming majority of the audience was in support of St. Archangel Michael on Sept. 19. As at many previous public meetings, leaders and members of other religious organizations spoke in favor of the church.

"It takes a little bit of time to understand our customs and traditions. The Orthodox have a strong sense of community and family," said the Rev. John Ocana of St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in Sunnyvale.

Parishioners of the Saratoga church and their friends addressed the neighbors' complaints that the church is being used as a dance hall and that it runs a bar and restaurant. Food, alcohol and dancing are all integral parts of their culture, they said.

"In social and cultural contexts, it's important to keep some choices open," Lisa Kurasch said. "Plum brandy is a national drink, and many Serbs are proud of it. Let them have their own expressions."

Neighbors who were fighting the church's plans said they were not attacking religious organizations nor are they interested in revoking the church's use permit. To them, the root of the conflict is a failure to communicate, said neighbor Steve Schwartzkopf.

There were other complaints as well. Resident Robert Barr said that the church's lights shine all night long and are a nuisance, while another resident, Ted Macauley, said he'd prefer not to have an establishment serving liquor 200 yards from his home.

Neighbor Danny Wong said noise from the church drove him and his family to move. other religious organizations spoke in favor of the church.

"It takes a little bit of time to understand our customs and traditions. The Orthodox have a strong sense of community and family," said the Rev. John Ocana of St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in Sunnyvale.

Parishioners of the Saratoga church and their friends addressed the neighbors' complaints that the church is being used as a dance hall and that it runs a bar and restaurant. Food, alcohol and dancing are all integral parts of their culture, they said.

"In social and cultural contexts, it's important to keep some choices open," Lisa Kurasch said. "Plum brandy is a national drink, and many Serbs are proud of it. Let them have their own expressions."

Neighbors who were fighting the church's plans said they were not attacking religious organizations nor are they interested in revoking the church's use permit. To them, the root of the conflict is a failure to communicate, said neighbor Steve Schwartzkopf.

There were other complaints as well. Resident Robert Barr said that the church's lights shine all night long and are a nuisance, while another resident, Ted Macauley, said he'd prefer not to have an establishment serving liquor 200 yards from his home.

Neighbor Danny Wong said noise from the church drove him and his family to move.

"I was forced to vacate because of disturbances from the church over the years. When can I move back and how can you help?" he said to the council.

But council members did not see that an appeal was warranted. In supporting the planning commission, the council added some modifications. Council members agreed with commissioners that dancing can be considered part of the church's objectives if the public isn't invited through advertising and if no admission is charged. The council also relaxed the church's hours of operation on Sundays, so that the church can be used an hour earlier than what the planning commission set in its use permit. The church will now be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The church's hours were also extended during Holy Week to accommodate late night services. Additionally, the church is required to put up a fence barrier so parking does not spill over to an adjoining private property lot.

The council unanimously upheld the planning commission's decision.

"I don't believe government should put limits on religious objectives," Councilman Chuck Page said.

The council stressed to both sides the need to go through a mediation process. The third party should be neutral and not be involved with the city, Vice Mayor Ann Waltonsmith said.

Councilwoman Kathleen King said both sides need to put in honest efforts at working through the situation because it comes down to perceptions. She chided church members for muttering under their breath and rolling their eyes when they heard something they didn't agree with. She also said she was disappointed with the neighbors when they didn't have a date set to begin the mediation process, even though they showed a commitment to it just a few days before, she said.

"It gives me the impression you didn't want to go through mediation," King said.

Mayor Aileen Kao hoped the two sides would be able to move on peacefully.

"Try to find a way to resolve whatever baggage you have," she said. "Truly try to be a good neighbor for each other."

"I was forced to vacate because of disturbances from the church over the years. When can I move back and how can you help?" he said to the council.

But council members did not see that an appeal was warranted. In supporting the planning commission, the council added some modifications. Council members agreed with commissioners that dancing can be considered part of the church's objectives if the public isn't invited through advertising and if no admission is charged. The council also relaxed the church's hours of operation on Sundays, so that the church can be used an hour earlier than what the planning commission set in its use permit. The church will now be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The church's hours were also extended during Holy Week to accommodate late night services. Additionally, the church is required to put up a fence barrier so parking does not spill over to an adjoining private property lot.

The council unanimously upheld the planning commission's decision.

"I don't believe government should put limits on religious objectives," Councilman Chuck Page said.

The council stressed to both sides the need to go through a mediation process. The third party should be neutral and not be involved with the city, Vice Mayor Ann Waltonsmith said.

Councilwoman Kathleen King said both sides need to put in honest efforts at working through the situation because it comes down to perceptions. She chided church members for muttering under their breath and rolling their eyes when they heard something they didn't agree with. She also said she was disappointed with the neighbors when they didn't have a date set to begin the mediation process, even though they showed a commitment to it just a few days before, she said.

"It gives me the impression you didn't want to go through mediation," King said.

Mayor Aileen Kao hoped the two sides would be able to move on peacefully.

"Try to find a way to resolve whatever baggage you have," she said. "Truly try to be a good neighbor for each other."