Neighbor planning housing development appeals city’s OK of live music at Woodhouse Brewing

A neighbor with plans to build a housing development on adjacent property has appealed the city’s approval of live music at Santa Cruz’s Woodhouse Blending & Brewing, worrying that it will reduce the project’s value. The city’s planning commission voted to expand Woodhouse’s change of use last month to allow outdoor events, but the appeal leaves the craft brewery in limbo until the issue is considered by the Santa Cruz City Council on Nov. 19. 

The appeal extends a yearlong saga in which Woodhouse has sought city approval to restore live entertainment to its taproom in an industrial area on Madrone Street, off River Street, and places the final decision with the city council. 

Last summer, an anonymous complaint prompted the city to order Woodhouse to stop all entertainment. At the time, the brewery held multiple events a week, ranging from community festivals to live music on an outdoor stage, despite not having a permit to do so. Over the past year, owner Will Moxham has sought to restore outdoor events by working with the city to expand Woodhouse’s use permit, which included a noise analysis of the surrounding area. 

On Sept. 19, in front of a crowd of over a hundred supporters, city planning commissioners voted unanimously to expand Woodhouse’s use permit. The new designation as a “high-risk alcohol outlet” will allow Woodhouse, previously a “low-risk alcohol outlet,” to host live music no louder than 79 decibels – about as loud as a busy city street – until 10 p.m. 

Ten days later, on Sept. 30, Guy and Stacey Mitchell filed a formal appeal of the decision. Guy Mitchell’s Potrero Street property neighbors Woodhouse to the south, and includes his business, Lighthouse Windows, and tenant Santa Cruz Core Fitness & Rehab. In a strongly worded 21-page appeal, the Mitchells say they were “beyond shocked” to learn about the zoning commissioners’ decision. “We are adamantly opposed to chronic loud music, which has been an incredible nuisance and has interfered with work,” they wrote. The Mitchells did not respond to calls or emails for this story. 

The Mitchells argue that if Woodhouse’s new master-use permit is approved, “the repercussions from the noise levels, even below the … 79 decibels, will greatly reduce the value of our property.” They also expressed concern over how Woodhouse will be monitored for compliance with noise limits. 

The Mitchells say they plan to eventually build an apartment complex on the site, and worry that its proximity to a live music venue will reduce the property’s value. “This has far greater importance than feeding folks alcohol in a town that struggles with alcohol abuse, drug abuse, job loss and homelessness,” the Mitchells said. “We will remove what is currently there and work the maximum number of apartments allowed.” 

In the appeal, the Mitchells express frustration that they weren’t contacted before the vote, learning about it after the fact via Lookout’s reporting. 

While the owners expressed the intention of someday developing the property, no plans or permits have been filed with the city, senior planner Ryan Bane said. He has worked with Woodhouse since July on expanding its use permit, and said he did not receive any pushback or concerns from the community during the process. 

Prior to the hearing on Sept. 19, the city followed the standard notification process by sending postcards to everyone within a 300-foot radius of Woodhouse and placing notices in public papers, said Bane. 

Developing the space with residential units won’t be affected by this ordinance, should it be upheld, said Bane. “After the noise study that was prepared for application, the consultant indicated that the proposed outdoor venue will meet noise ordinance requirements under certain conditions that they recommended,” he said. “Whether it’s commercial or residential, that shouldn’t matter, based on the noise study. It should meet our noise ordinance.”

At the city council meeting, the planning department will make a recommendation to the council, as it did to the planning commission in September. “I don’t think it will change. We will give the same recommendation to approve it,” said Bane. 

It’s unclear to Woodhouse owner Moxham how the events could negatively affect Guy Mitchell’s existing business at the site, because Lighthouse Windows isn’t open during event hours. The business closes at 4 p.m. during the week and is closed on the weekends; Woodhouse’s events are exclusively held in the evenings and on Saturday and Sunday. 

“He’s just trying to make us sound bad when there’s so much proof that it’s not true. The only thing he can say is we’re loud sometimes, and that’s true, and that’s what we’re trying to solve,” said Moxham. In the meantime, Woodhouse is hosting occasional outdoor events using permits given through the city and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control that do not carry a decibel limit. 

“I get a lot of anger and hatred from that appeal,” said Moxham. “He could have contacted me at any time, and I would work with him. He never has.” 

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