Fullerton : Fraternities’ Neighbors Protest Plan for Walls

Neighbors of Cal State Fullerton’s fraternity row told the City Council this week that a new plan to wall them in with the fraternities would be a disaster.

Instead of solving problems that many say are caused by the fraternities, some said, restricting movement in and out of the area would aggravate the situation.

Because of the reaction, the council voted Tuesday to rehear the proposal at its Feb. 4 meeting. The plan calls for construction of two concrete block walls to separate fraternity row, located two blocks north of the campus, from its neighbors to the north. But the fraternity neighborhood also has some apartments and condominiums with non-student residents.

The council also will consider alternate plans at the meeting, such as a residential parking permit system.

The walls were approved in December, about a year after the homeowners north of fraternity row complained that the students parked on their streets, littered their property and made too much noise.

The council appropriated $57,000 to build two walls, one at Teri Place and a second at Derek Drive, to block through traffic from fraternity row.

Also, a path leading from Associated Road to Amhert Avenue was to be closed to discourage students from parking in the adjacent neighborhood and then walking to the houses.

The city will mail notices about the next meeting to those affected, Councilman Chris Norby said.