Nightclub Given Chance to Argue Closing Time

Protesting it had not received notice of city zoning hearings, a nightclub fighting limits on its hours was granted new hearings Wednesday--but not without bitter warnings from two Valley councilmen that the Aftershock would face even tighter restrictions the second time around.

“Ever since the Aftershock took over, there’s been nothing but problems,” said Councilman Joel Wachs, arguing that the club was slipping off the hook on a legal technicality. “You’re lucky they didn’t close you down.”

Councilman Hal Bernson also had harsh words for the nightspot, at 11345 Ventura Blvd. The business has drawn complaints from area residents about noise, litter and other disturbances for years.

“When this comes back to my committee again, they better watch out,” threatened Bernson, who chairs the council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee. “I’m going to be a lot tougher.”

The Aftershock is operating under a series of conditions imposed by city zoning officials in 1997.

In response to continued complaints about the club, a zoning administrator imposed a new restriction in September: that the business close at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays rather than 2 a.m. The Aftershock appealed the decision, which the Board of Zoning appeals upheld.

Michael J. Saltz, an attorney for the Aftershock, said his client had not received notice of the zoning hearings, which the city acknowledged Wednesday had been mailed to an incorrect address. The city attorney’s office advised returning the matter to a zoning administrator for further review, and the council reluctantly agreed.

“We now know that the City Council has absolutely no intent on following the laws,” Saltz said after the meeting, “but they have every intent on forcing a business out of business.”