Fraternities Attack Plan to Regulate Them

Upset over the Fullerton Planning Commission’s endorsement of a proposal to regulate fraternity and sorority housing at Cal State Fullerton, an attorney for the organizations said Thursday that the measure is “totally illegal.”

“In my opinion they’re discriminating against the fraternities and sororities--even those who do not have problems,” said Gregory Hile, attorney for the Greek Alumni Advisory Council, which monitors the fraternities. “They’re trying to regulate the user--not the use--and that’s illegal.”

The proposal, the latest in a long-festering battle between the seven fraternities and the neighboring residents of Teri Place, is an attempt to quiet neighbors complaining of noise and litter.

The commissioners, in a 5-0 vote Wednesday with two members absent, recommended approval of an ordinance requiring all fraternities and sororities to obtain conditional-use permits. The permits would require annual approval from the city--at least for the first two years--based on compliance with permit conditions, which have yet to be established.

But Hile argued that the newly organized advisory council is capable of governing the fraternities without restrictions imposed by conditional-use permits. “There’s no question that what they are trying to do is abate the fraternities and this is the way they are trying to do it,” Hile said.

However, senior planner Barry Eaton said the proposal “does not represent an attempt to abate fraternities and sororities in any manner or form.” He said the reason for the ordinance would be to create an “awareness of the need to be good neighbors.”

Currently, the city requires that conditional-use permits be obtained by all new fraternity and sorority houses, based on a 1981 ordinance. The new proposal would apply to all other Greek organization houses that have been allowed to operate without permits.

Eaton said houses without permits would be given a two-year grace period to apply for a permit. The fee for a new permit would be $600, while the annual review fee would be $100.

The ordinance, requiring approval from the City Council to become law, will be considered at a meeting tentatively set for Nov. 19.