Plans to Expand Local Sports Facility Draw Some Opposition

and start selling beer and wine at its snack bar have drawn some opposition from neighboring business who worry that there won't be enough parking.

San Ramon Sports opened its doors 17 years ago. The 30,000-square-foot facility houses sports leagues and hosts parties and adult soccer games. Owner John Penna wants to build a new entrance, restrooms, concession stand, seating and main office.

But there's a petition going around asking residents and business owners to pressure the city into denying Penna's permit. Penna started his own online petition to fight back.

In September, Penna applied for a permit through the city to expand into a 3,600-square-foot space in the warehouse left empty by a shuttered party supply store.

Penna asked in his permit application if the city would reduce the parking requirement for his zoning designation by 33 percent, too. The parking lot by San Ramon Sports includes 217 spaces. During peak hours, Penna said a quarter of them are still available.

The petition against the expansion is based on the idea that Penna wants to decrease the size of the existing parking lot. In fact, he just wants to keep it at its existing size, according to city records.

The application also says Penna applied for a state license to sell beer and wine, which he said he would only sell with strict limitations and mainly after adult sports games.

"As for the matter of alcohol, we are not applying for a full liquor license, nor will we be opening a night club or bar," Penna wrote in an e-mail this week. "What we are asking for is to simply offer beer and wine in what will be an expanded restaurant/snack bar setting."

The reason Penna applied for an alcohol license in the first place is because of customer demand.

"Our adult players have repeatedly asked us to provide a safe and comfortable place to sit, watch sporting events on large screen TVs and talk with teammates while they wind down after playing their game," Penna wrote. "We see this as similar to Cabaret Sports and Campo di Bocce in Livermore and the many pizza parlors which teams go to after their games. All are family oriented sports related facilities that offer food, beer and wine."

Penna said he enjoys the relationships he's built with people in San Ramon over the years and that he was surprised to hear anyone opposes his permit.

"We consider ourselves to be, first and foremost, a family business and would never do anything that would jeopardize the success we have experienced and the many customer friendships we have enjoyed over the past 17 years," Penna wrote.

For more information ...

View Penna's petition, here. To see the staff report on his minor use permit application, see the attached pef.

The Planning Commission will consider Penna's application at a regular board meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday at the City Council chambers, 2222 Camino Ramon.