Neighbors, nuns negotiate noise
Burlingame, Calif. - Noisy gatherings that bother neighbors doesn't sound like something that would become an issue for a nonprofit run by nuns, but some Adeline Drive residents say that events on the Mercy High School campus are running too late, too loud and too often. Some of the residents will present a signed petition at a special City Council meeting tonight calling for more stringent measures to keep noise and traffic at bay. They are appealing a recent Planning Commission recommendation that calls for noise and traffic from the property located at 2300 Adeline Drive to be monitored, but adds little by way of new restrictions. Some felt that signing the petition was signing against the sisters,? said resident Linda Abbey, who noted that noise and traffic have been a problem in the area since the 1980s. But it's not about that, it's about our children's safety, vehicles not being hit and keeping a peaceful neighborhood.?
The commission recommended in January that the Sisters of Mercy measure noise at their special events, which include weddings at Kohl Mansion, cultural celebrations and various school-related assemblies, and then report back in a year, city planner Meg Monroe said. The point was to establish a baseline for exactly how noisy it was in the area, Monroe said. The school has agreed to the monitoring and noise study as well as some restrictions on event size and noise. The sisters and the school want to be good neighbors,? Sisters of Mercy spokeswoman Liz Dossa said. We're concerned about the neighbors and their reasonable complaints.? However, Abbey and her neighbors in their petition say more needs to be done to control the level of noise and traffic on the narrow, winding road, which has increased as more groups seek to rent out the facilities on the sisters' property. They would like to see non-school related events limited to once a week, set more rigid operating hours and consider making parts of Adeline one-way.
The nearly 40-acre Sisters of Mercy property, which includes Mercy Burlingame High School, was annexed into the city in 1978, but still operates under the terms of an old agreement negotiated with San Mateo County, Monroe said
(From the Examiner, F)
Burlingame, Calif. - Noisy gatherings that bother neighbors doesn't sound like something that would become an issue for a nonprofit run by nuns, but some Adeline Drive residents say that events on the Mercy High School campus are running too late, too loud and too often. Some of the residents will present a signed petition at a special City Council meeting tonight calling for more stringent measures to keep noise and traffic at bay. They are appealing a recent Planning Commission recommendation that calls for noise and traffic from the property located at 2300 Adeline Drive to be monitored, but adds little by way of new restrictions. Some felt that signing the petition was signing against the sisters,? said resident Linda Abbey, who noted that noise and traffic have been a problem in the area since the 1980s. But it's not about that, it's about our children's safety, vehicles not being hit and keeping a peaceful neighborhood.?
The commission recommended in January that the Sisters of Mercy measure noise at their special events, which include weddings at Kohl Mansion, cultural celebrations and various school-related assemblies, and then report back in a year, city planner Meg Monroe said. The point was to establish a baseline for exactly how noisy it was in the area, Monroe said. The school has agreed to the monitoring and noise study as well as some restrictions on event size and noise. The sisters and the school want to be good neighbors,? Sisters of Mercy spokeswoman Liz Dossa said. We're concerned about the neighbors and their reasonable complaints.? However, Abbey and her neighbors in their petition say more needs to be done to control the level of noise and traffic on the narrow, winding road, which has increased as more groups seek to rent out the facilities on the sisters' property. They would like to see non-school related events limited to once a week, set more rigid operating hours and consider making parts of Adeline one-way.
The nearly 40-acre Sisters of Mercy property, which includes Mercy Burlingame High School, was annexed into the city in 1978, but still operates under the terms of an old agreement negotiated with San Mateo County, Monroe said
(From the Examiner, F)
- Written by Fiona
The facilities and numerous programs run at the old-Kohl mansion estate are an invaluable resource to our community. I have lived near the property for close to 18 years and I have always found them to be great neighbors. I hope that our City Council does not take any action that would impede the ability of the nuns to continue their minitries there.
Posted by: Joanne | February 21, 2007 at 06:09 PM
Mercy and Kohl was there long before any of their neighbors. It should be no surprise that traffic and noise comes along with the beautiful well cared for property.
Posted by: Angela | February 21, 2007 at 06:14 PM
Here's the deal in regard to traffic and the easiest, safest way to get from A to B for the school-kids:
Have the students drive up or down Hillside, turn onto Alvarado and into the upper parking lot at Mercy. Only problem is that Alvarado becomes a street that does not allow cars to park next to the curb.
This eliminates the head-on crashes on upper Adeline, and the traffic jam on lower Adeline mixing with the school traffic to Lincoln, Franklin and BIS.
Mercy Center and Kohl Mansion are wonderful assets to our community. They are a source of culture and reflection in a world quickly losing the ability to relax.
I hope this council meeting will be another expression of our city's compassion for one another.
Pete
Posted by: Pete | February 21, 2007 at 06:30 PM
I've live very close to the Kohl Mansion and Mercy Center for 16 years and this is truely a gem within our city. The social functions held at Kohl Mansion help bring the community closer. It is a treat for my family to have the ability to walk through beautiful paths and take in the wonders of mother-nature. A visit to the chapels at the Mercy Center are worth the trip.
Posted by: | February 22, 2007 at 06:02 AM
A good time to visit the chapel is on the first Friday of each month at 8 p.m. Even if you don't consider yourself "spiritual", you should experience Mercy's Taize meditative prayer service at least once in your lifetime. The music is beautiful and will calm the soul of anyone who has had a hectic week.
Posted by: Joanne | February 22, 2007 at 06:21 AM
Mercy's Taize is one of the most beautiful and peaceful experiences ever.
Get there early.
Posted by: Angela | February 23, 2007 at 05:47 AM