GLENDALE — Glendale Presbyterian Church representatives voiced concerns this week regarding a proposal by the Armenian Society of Los Angeles to use part of its newly constructed community building as a banquet hall and to allow for alcohol consumption at the multi-use cultural center.
The society submitted an application with the city’s Planning Department for a permit to operate a banquet hall with alcohol service at its three-story building on the 100 block of South Louise Street. The society is not asking to sell alcohol, only that it be allowed to provide it to its guests.
The church and the society’s building are on the same block.
Church representatives told Planning Hearing Officer Kristen Asp during a hearing Wednesday that the proposal poses a potential safety risk.
“The city has a responsibility to protect its citizens and I have a responsibility as a member of that board to try to make sure that we have, as much as possible, secured the safety of our congregation, its members and the members of the other two congregations,” said Phil Pirio, a church Elder Board member.