Dimples

David W. Gordon Burbank's City Council dashed any hope for a reprieve at its May 17 meeting when it voted 3-0 to allow what neighbors feel is an incompatible business to come to their neighborhood. Dimples, a local nightclub/bar, was given the green light to break out the booze at the long-vacant Chadney's restaurant site. Locals' concerns had initially flared in March after Burbank's Planning Board granted a conditional-use permit for this relocation and new use of the property.

Mark R. Madler Residents in the neighborhood of a proposed karaoke club came in droves Tuesday to express concern about traffic congestion, noise and lewd activity they fear the club will bring. The City Council late Tuesday was poised to vote on an appeal of a conditional-use permit for the popular Dimples restaurant and karaoke bar to move in to the former Chadney's restaurant at 3000 W. Olive Ave. But by press time, the council had not voted.

Mark R. Madler Citing safety concerns, a Burbank woman has filed an appeal with the city, asking that the City Council reconsider allowing a popular karaoke bar to move to a new location. Linda Matsumoto is challenging the conditional-use permit approved last month for Dimples to take over the shuttered Chadney's Restaurant, because it would make the neighborhood near her home in the 200 block of Niagara Street less safe. With Chadney's occupancy at 200 customers, its parking lot of 39 parking spaces will not be adequate, said Phil Berlin, Matsumoto's attorney.

Never fear, Burbank, the karaoke police are here. Dimples night club has always been about smiles and singing along. But these days, it's hard to smile and sing along with the exhaustive list of 50 proposed conditions owner Sal Ferraro might have to swallow before he can move into a now-shuttered Chadney's restaurant at Olive and Alameda avenues. We realize that conditional-use permits are part of the price paid to live and do business in certain city zones.

Mark R. Madler Dimples, a karaoke hotspot for more than 20 years, will have a new home by June now that its owner and the city have agreed on a list of conditions to be met before the move. Dimples owner Sal Ferraro will move his club to 3000 W. Olive Ave. -- once home to Chadney's restaurant and jazz club -- by June 1, he said. The karaoke bar will be decorated to look like a museum of television, movie and record industries. "It's going to be a challenge," Ferraro said.

Mark R. Madler Dimples will move into the old Chadney's restaurant site, the City Council decided Tuesday, despite neighbors' fears of increased noise and traffic, but the karaoke bar will have to provide free valet parking. Owner Sal Ferraro agreed to the condition as a means to keep customer vehicles off nearby streets. Linda Matsumoto, a Niagara Street resident, asked the council to reconsider the conditional-use permit granted to Ferraro to move his business to Olive Avenue because the club would bring traffic, noise and bad behavior to the neighborhood, she said.

Mark R. Madler The owner of a popular karaoke club is working with city officials to pare down a list 50 conditions he is being asked to meet before he can relocate his nightclub. Dimples owner Sal Ferraro has to move his business because a 500,000-square-foot, mixed-use condominium and retail project is slated to be built on the site of his present club in the 3400 block of Olive Avenue. But before he can take over the shuttered Chadney's restaurant at Olive and Alameda avenues, the longtime business owner must meet certain requirements set by the city to obtain a conditional-use permit for the site.

Move would not create havoc Regarding the Burbank Leader's question, "Do you think karaoke bar Dimples will create safety problems for the neighborhoods it's moving into?" first off, I live just a few blocks from Dimples and I have no problems with the relocation of the restaurant. Dimples is moving about one block from its original location. This new spot is farther away from houses and has more parking than the original. It is basically isolated on an island between NBC and the Acapulco Restaurant.

ON THE AGENDA Here are a few of the issues the council will consider Tuesday night. KARAOKE BAR APPEAL Council will reconsider allowing Dimples, a karaoke bar, to move into the closed Chadney's restaurant space at 3000 W. Olive Ave. A resident is concerned that traffic and noise from Dimples customers will harm the nearby residential neighborhood. The Planning Board approved in March a conditional-use permit for Dimples to take over the restaurant space.

Mark R. Madler For more than 20 years, music has been the main attraction at an Olive Avenue restaurant and bar named for a Shirley Temple movie. It hasn't been music sung by professionals but performed by those who may not always hit the high note or who are just slightly out of tune. "It's not a pretentious place," said Louis Esteban, a regular customer of Dimples. "It has a great environment and has never been a place for rabble rousers. People who come here want to have fun."

Black Monday for Burbank Mayor Jef Vander Borght may feel really proud of himself ("Hoping for Jet Blue Monday," June 15) by naming May 24 as Jet Blue day and celebrating this airline's direct flights to the East Coast. I have a feeling, however, that most longtime Burbank residents will note it as a very black day. The day when Burbank (Bob Hope Airport) lost its status as a regional airport. Oh yes, for those who live near Los Angeles International Airport and elsewhere, Burbank may be a convenience, but to those who live here and care about the quality of life here, it is one more step down the slippery slope to the 24-hour international operation so desired by a few. ROSE M. PROUSER Burbank Some observations around town On Memorial Day, I only saw a smattering of American Flags being displayed honoring our veterans around Burbank.

David W. Gordon Burbank's City Council dashed any hope for a reprieve at its May 17 meeting when it voted 3-0 to allow what neighbors feel is an incompatible business to come to their neighborhood. Dimples, a local nightclub/bar, was given the green light to break out the booze at the long-vacant Chadney's restaurant site. Locals' concerns had initially flared in March after Burbank's Planning Board granted a conditional-use permit for this relocation and new use of the property.

JetBlue arrival is a triumph for the city JetBlue Airlines coming into Bob Hope Airport is another plus for Burbank. Leaving Burbank for New York, you could be halfway there before you reached your plane at LAX. To better make our new arrival welcome and all passengers of other airlines, please consider covered extension tunnels for loading and unloading. Welcome, Jet Blue. IVAN W. CREGGER Burbank Thanks for the community support I would like to thank everyone who supported our neighborhood at the public hearing on Dimples relocation.

Speed humps a bumpy business I have lived in Burbank for 81-plus years, having been born here in 1924. We have a great city and I see it being spoiled by the discriminatory placement of speed bumps on some streets. They apparently do not have any real safety value or they would be around every school. But not a single school has been protected by these bumps. The way they have been installed is very discriminatory, invading the peace and quiet for some by routing traffic down their street -- as people avoid the discomfort and car wear-and-tear when an adjacent street has bumps.

Walkways would be practical Since we will not even have any more discussions on building a new airport terminal for at least 10 years, it would make more than 8 million people (estimated users of the airport) very happy if money would be appropriated to install walkways from the existing loading areas to the boarding airplanes. By doing this, it will prevent people from getting wet, going to and from the airplane to the waiting areas when it is raining; and it will be a relief to not walk on 100-degree-plus tarmac in the summertime.

Mark R. Madler Dimples will move into the old Chadney's restaurant site, the City Council decided Tuesday, despite neighbors' fears of increased noise and traffic, but the karaoke bar will have to provide free valet parking. Owner Sal Ferraro agreed to the condition as a means to keep customer vehicles off nearby streets. Linda Matsumoto, a Niagara Street resident, asked the council to reconsider the conditional-use permit granted to Ferraro to move his business to Olive Avenue because the club would bring traffic, noise and bad behavior to the neighborhood, she said.

Mark R. Madler Residents in the neighborhood of a proposed karaoke club came in droves Tuesday to express concern about traffic congestion, noise and lewd activity they fear the club will bring. The City Council late Tuesday was poised to vote on an appeal of a conditional-use permit for the popular Dimples restaurant and karaoke bar to move in to the former Chadney's restaurant at 3000 W. Olive Ave. But by press time, the council had not voted.

ON THE AGENDA Here are a few of the issues the council will consider Tuesday night. KARAOKE BAR APPEAL Council will reconsider allowing Dimples, a karaoke bar, to move into the closed Chadney's restaurant space at 3000 W. Olive Ave. A resident is concerned that traffic and noise from Dimples customers will harm the nearby residential neighborhood. The Planning Board approved in March a conditional-use permit for Dimples to take over the restaurant space.

A call to reconsider Dimples move We live on Niagara Street nearest to Olive Avenue. I feel that we will be the ones most affected by the relocation of Dimples. With only 39 parking spaces and the capability of holding 200 people in their building, it's obvious to me -- or anyone -- that the overflow of traffic will be pouring out onto my street along with other nearby streets. Dimples customers, most likely under the influence, will be darting across Olive Avenue to get to and from the karaoke bar. There is no crosswalk anywhere near that would make it safe to cross.

Move would not create havoc Regarding the Burbank Leader's question, "Do you think karaoke bar Dimples will create safety problems for the neighborhoods it's moving into?" first off, I live just a few blocks from Dimples and I have no problems with the relocation of the restaurant. Dimples is moving about one block from its original location. This new spot is farther away from houses and has more parking than the original. It is basically isolated on an island between NBC and the Acapulco Restaurant.