BUENA PARK : Limits on Use of VFW Hall Assailed

A member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Buena Park chastised the City Council this week for new restrictions placed on the post--including a ban on renting it to any other groups.

John Curry said the city has “virtually shut us down since May,” when the Planning Commission imposed the new restrictions. The VFW’s primary source of income, he said, was rent from the hall. The council recently refused to overturn those restrictions.

Since 1954, the city has allowed the VFW to operate the hall on Homewood Avenue, although the neighborhood is zoned for single-family homes.

For the past few years, City Planner Rick Warsinski said, neighbors have complained about noise, rowdiness, parking and traffic problems around the hall, which frequently is rented for wedding receptions. City officials said numerous complaints and petitions have been sent to City Hall by neighbors.

In addition to prohibiting use of the hall by anyone except the VFW, the new rules limit the hours to 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.