(UNION CITY, CA.) – The planning commission meets on Thursday, February 5th to discuss whether or not to issue a use permit to Mohammed Sonan to turn a vacant property into an event venue.
The property is located at 31014 Union City Boulevard and was formerly Pinoy Handaan. It features a large event space, a small mezzanine, and an outdoor patio space.
Photo Credit: granicus.com / Union City
Contract Senior Planner Brannon De Lucas introduces the commission to the overall plan for the project.
If the use permit is granted, the property will be used to host events that serve the community and others who wish to book the venue for events such as weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, and any other type of gathering or celebration.
Its operational hours would be 10:00am-12:00am from Monday to Sunday, and the outdoor rear patio would be in service from 10:00am-9pm from Sunday to Thursday, and 10am to 10pm on Friday and Saturday.
Events hosted in the facility could include live music, food catering, and can accommodate up to 299 people.
Sonan intends to install surveillance cameras that would monitor all angles of the property 24/7 and hire security personnel to be present at every event, increasing in number as the number of guests increases.
Sonan would also move forward with renovations to the property. These would include fixing broken windows, adding insulation in different ways to decrease noise levels, and improving its appearance but still conforming to its historical and local standards. All renovations for and usage of the facility have been planned in compliance with all municipal codes and other regulations.
Following Lucas’ presentation, the commission invites Sonan himself to step up to the podium in order to reiterate and elaborate on his plans and answer questions from the commission.
Sonan very early on establishes himself as experienced in the event hosting industry, as he has been a part of the industry since he was 14. He uses this time to put in his own words what kind of environment he wishes to create with the venue:
“It’s supposed to be an open forum for any kind of event but done in a more tasteful manner. One of the main things is I want to focus on creating something that lasts.”
Photo Credit: granicus.com / Union City
He also includes that he grew up in Union City and cares greatly not only for his clients and the events he hosts, but also for the residents living by the venue.
All of the commissioners are supportive of the project, only asking clarifying questions and asking that Sonan elaborate on certain aspects of his plans. The most prominent of these is how he intends to deal with the lack of parking around the venue.
Resident of the Alvarado Square Complex Cory Osterman, though favoring the project overall, also has concerns of his own.
"[I’m mostly concerned about] what happens [after the event] when three hundred people who have been drinking for up to five hours leave trying to find their cars."
Photo Credit: granicus.com / Union City
He imagines people potentially leaving the venue in large, loud groups and walking by residential areas late at night in order to reach their cars, disturbing residents in the process.
Sonan has been contacting neighboring businesses such as Bronco Bilis and Portuguese Hall in hopes of reaching some agreement that allows him to rent their parking spaces during events. Both businesses have reacted positively to his proposals thus far.
Commissioners are also interested in Sonan’s exact plans regarding bringing in catering services and security.
"One of our requirements for any events that we host [is that] every single vendor needs to be approved by us before they come in and do business.”
Every vendor will be held to strict legal and service standards, ensuring that the venue will remain clean and guests will be served well. He also clarifies that he or his managing team will personally hire security from private security companies according to the number of people at the event.
Satisfied with the proposed plans for the project, the commission unanimously grants Sonan the use permit needed to turn the property into an event venue.
If you have any questions, please email me at madison.v@lead4earth.org or comment below.
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