Neighbors near Ventura Boulevard spoke up about the request for Stout Burgers & Beer to have a full liquor license and remain opened until 4 a.m.
At the Land Use Committee meeting for the Studio City Neighborhood Council, owners for the restaurant said they were willing to compromise to yield to the concerns of the people living near 11254 Ventura Blvd., between Tujunga Avenue and Vineland Avenue. No specific decision was made by the committee, allowing them to return with a new request.
Nancy Meyer, the president of the Homeowners Association for 11138-11150 Aqua Vista, Nancy Meyer, said she is concerned about the restaurant being opened for 19 hours, from 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. She reported that "large wood chunks and debris came raining down on the sidewalk and the pool recently from a construction site next door," but the main concern is will they put up a privacy fence.
"We want to work closely with the community and address their concerns," said Sonia Rodriguez who represents the restaurant. They are not wedded to a 4 a.m. closing time, nor the full liquor license because they will mostly serve beer, similar to their location in Hollywood.
Charles Lew and executive chef Alexandros Kagianaris created the neighborhood restaurant concept specializing in fine burgers and artisanal draft and bottled beers from around the world as well as fine wines.
Committee member Denise Welvang said, "The neighborhood in Studio City is very different from Hollywood. There is no one out on the streets at 2 a.m."
Fellow member Paul Samek added, "I appreciate that you want to have a place for people to come to after the other bars close, and you can serve coffee and food, but we don't want people who have been drinking alcohol to come to our area for that at that time of the night."
Committee member Gail Steinberg complimented the team on the impressive architecture of the new restaurant, and pointed out that with a staff of 10 and the capacity of the restaurant, at least 50 parking spaces will be necessary.
Committee chair Lisa Sarkin pointed out that noise travels and bounces off the hillside and the concrete banks of the Los Angeles River. She lives across Ventura and across the river and said, "The noise at my house is so bad that it sounds like there are people in my living room. We have had terrible experiences with the Platinum Live club and we hope not to repeat that situation."
The humor of the night came from Joe Higgins, a resident of Studio City who just wanted the agenda to be in larger print. The meets on the second Wednesday of the month.
