To: David M. Williams, Administrator of Architectural & Land Use Regulations
From: The St. Elmo Condominium Association
Subject: Opposition to the granting of a variance to the Restaurant at Two Ames Ave.
Sir:
The St. Elmo Board Condominium Association, consisting of 67 individual condominium owners, wishes to express its opposition to the granting of additional variances to the 2 Ames Avenue restaurant.
The operation of the restaurant on those premises since the beginning of the 2017 season (particularly with its late evening emphasis on the consumption of alcohol) has already negatively impacted the overwhelmingly residential character of the neighborhood at night. Noise disruptions during Chautauqua Institution defined “quiet hours” have very significantly increased. Numerous complaints have been noted by both owners and guests in the St. Elmo, and those complaints have continued into the 2018 pre-season. Neither the 2 Ames owners or Chautauqua security have been responsive in addressing the complaints. That the Institution has seen fit to extend operating hours for liquor serving establishments to midnight has only exacerbated the problem.
The granting of this variance request would only serve to amplify the noise disruption by moving patrons onto exterior areas where sounds are not even muffled in a building interior.
The presence of an additional eating establishment at 2 Ames has benefitted the community. The St. Elmo Condominium Association supports the addition of more eating establishments on the grounds and recognizes that the addition begins to define an evolving character for our neighborhood. However, the extreme change and nuance that granting this variance represents is out of character with Chautauqua Institutions statement in Changes to Chautauqua Institution’s Sale of Alcohol Policy (as posted on Oct. 4, 2017 in “Institution News”). The statement reads “The policy also contains controls to honor the mission of Chautauqua Institution and to maintain the signature, family-friendly environment and experience for which the Institution is known.”
Respectfully submitted by Chaz Kerschner, President, St. Elmo Condominium Association