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San Luis Obispo takes step to revoke two fraternity house permits

May 31, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

Following years of conflicts between Cal Poly students and residents, on Wednesday the San Luis Obispo Planning Commission voted to revoke the permits of two fraternities.

At the start of the meeting, city resident Kathie Walker brought up the impacts on neighborhoods of loud parties held by fraternities at residential properties aside from their houses. She discussed the many citations given for the unruly gatherings, why asking the commission to take action.

Both Sigma Nu, which is located on Foothill Boulevard, and Delta Chi, located on Monte Vista Plaza, had received multiple complaints and violations prior to the commission meeting.

While the presidents of both chapters apologized for passed incidents, they asked the commissioners to allow their chapters to continue operating under the permits.

The commissioners discussed the ongoing repetitive events that have harmed their neighbors. They considered increasing fines, modifying permits or revoking the permits.

In the end, the commissioners voted unanimously for a resolution revoking the permits of Sigma Nu and Delta Chi. The resolution requires a second vote which is scheduled for June 11.

 


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I have to ask the question, has the problem become worse or is it the property value and cost of rent has changed the neighborhood?


0

Toga Toga Toga….


5

I guess being on double secret probation finally caught up with them. With all the land Cal Poly has been gifted or got around them, why not set up some for all fraternities and sororities to relocate too, next to some of the new student housing?


27

What this article fails to point out is that fraternities are now operating in R-1 and R-2 residential zones which is illegal in the city. There is no Conditional Use Permit for fraternity operations in those zones so they are operating with impunity. There are something like 50 illegal fraternity and satellite operations in many neighborhoods adjacent to Cal Poly. Cal Poly is not cooperating with the city to stop this invasion that is destroying residents’ quality of life. In fact, they’re even defying state law by not posting the addresses of their fraternities and satellite houses. The parties and events have gotten huge and extremely loud. There are live bands every weekend and even on some weeknights. They’re hosting car washes, parties with waterslides, charging admission for some live band events, etc. These activities are in a residential neighborhood with families. Residents can’t sleep and can’t enjoy their homes and many don’t feel safe since the alcohol fueled behaviors are out of control. If they speak out or complain, there is retaliation by fraternity members, so many have given up and moved. If this was occurring in your neighborhood, how would you feel–being run out of your own home of many years? Our city claims there’s no money to hire more enforcement personnel to stop these illegal actions, yet they find money for other lower priorities. Our City Council needs to take action now because as Cal Poly’s enrollment increases without enough on-campus housing, look out–they could invade your neighborhood next.


82

5 or 6 guys sharing a house does not constitute a fraternity. This neighborhood of older rental properties have been occupied by students for decades and there have always been parties. Then came in the yuppies who fix up and occupy houses in a cool location and object to anything and everything. SLO is a college town. I like that. I like my student neighbors. You do not have the right to demand they be sequestered on campus. They are part of the community and character of SLO. If you don’t like living around students you can damn well move to San Luis Ranch (enjoy the wind) or better yet Santa Maria.


-26

Yep, SLO is a college town. I don’t think the problem is with the college students. It appears that fraternity houses have moved into neighborhoods, and that’s not legal. From what I gather, the city defines a fraternity as a house where fraternity members hold events that are related to the fraternity and that is against the law. It also looks like Cal Poly is hiding those addresses from the city so they don’t get the fraternity members in trouble. I agree with another commenter who said Cal Poly should offer land on campus to the fraternities and they should build their houses there. Seems like a win-win for the neighborhood and the fraternities.


43

Yay!

Let’s let SLO become Isla Vista of SLO County!! If the students are part of the community they need to act like it and not a bunch entitled drunk brats.


6

Don’t hold your breath on the mayor and her council doing much against house full of out of control students or a fraternity,they are (Stewart and Shoreman)CP employees, who do you think were the majority of their votes came from?The more CP influenced the local government,the more out of control the neighborhoods will get,with nothing but a slap on the hand.


3