Hearing Will Address Noise at Club Facility

Operations of the Canoga Park Women’s Club, which some neighbors say is creating a nuisance by renting out its facility for Saturday night parties, will be discussed Monday at a meeting sponsored by the city Planning Department..

The public meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. at the West Valley Municipal Building, 19040 Vanowen St. in Reseda.

The club, founded in 1914, has operated its clubhouse on the northwest corner of Valerio Street and Jordan Avenue since 1929, raising funds for its charitable work by renting out the facility.

Some neighbors, particularly next-door neighbor Martin Montague, who filed a suit Thursday against the club in Superior Court, have complained that late-night Saturday functions such as baptism parties are creating noise and other problems.

Robert Janovici, chief zoning administrator for the city, said the purpose of the meeting is “to let people air their concerns to see what problems really do exist. Then we want to try to identify what can be done to deal with them.”

Janovici said representatives of the Police Department and City Councilwoman Laura Chick’s office will be at the meeting, which will be chaired by zoning administrator Bill Green.

Club President Theresa Wessig, responding to a letter from the Planning Department, said she has instructed security staff to “strictly enforce” an existing rule requiring that doors and windows be kept closed while parties are in progress.

She said new rental rules will require all music to stop by 10:45 p.m., with the building to be vacated by 11 p.m. Previously, music was stopped at 11:30 p.m. with renters asked to be out of the building by midnight.

“We are a caring organization,” Wessig said. “We really regret this problem has arisen and feel sure it can be resolved.”