Fullerton : City to Study Changes in Greek Houses Rules

After meeting with student and neighborhood representatives, the city’s planning staff is recommending changes in an ordinance that requires fraternities and sororities to obtain conditional use permits for their houses.

The proposed changes, to be considered today by the City Council, clarify eight criteria that Cal State Fullerton fraternities and sororities have to fulfill to successfully obtain a permit. The existing ordinance’s language was too vague and gave the city wide discretion to reject such a permit, according to Bill Turpit, an attorney and Kappa Sigma alumnus who represented student groups in meetings with the city.

In November, the council adopted an ordinance requiring all 14 fraternities and sororities in the city to obtain conditional use permits within two years. Previously, only new Greek houses were required to have the permits, excluding those already established. Dwellings with conditional use permits undergo yearly renewals by the city.

The city’s curbs came after numerous complaints of noise, parties and litter by neighbors living near the fraternities.

The revised ordinance would waive a $100 fee to review conditional use permits each year. It still calls for a $600 filing fee for first-time applicants.

A proposal to establish an advisory group of neighbors, Greek representatives and university officials--similar to one set up for San Diego State University’s Greek houses--was rejected by the city, Turpit said.

Chief City Planner Barry Eaton agreed that the recommended changes are easier for the houses to follow.