CANOGA PARK : Limits Sought on Restaurant’s Hours

Neighbors fearful that a planned Jack in the Box restaurant in their neighborhood would worsen a nighttime scene that already includes prostitutes, loiterers and gangs, are trying to limit the restaurant’s hours.

Foodmaker Inc., owner of the Jack in the Box chain, plans to begin construction of a restaurant at Vanowen Street and De Soto Avenue in Canoga Park early next year.

Gina Devlin, a spokeswoman for Foodmaker, said the firm is taken aback by the complaints.

She said the developer met with some homeowners and agreed that hours would be limited to midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. weekends, but that the drive-through window would be open all night.

Now, neighbors say that’s insufficient. Marilyn Robinson, a resident in the homes of nearby Quimby Park said she and her neighbors want the city to forbid the 24-hour window when the conditional-use permit for the restaurant goes before the City Council Oct. 12.

“What kind of element will be at Jack in the Box--let’s be honest--all night long?” Robinson asked.

The neighborhood is so dangerous at night that “I don’t even walk there,” she said. Victoria Petho, another neighbor, said the restaurant site is near the Los Angeles River flood-control channel where transients and day workers live. And she said the restaurant would boost their number.

“We are just not wanting to have another 24-hour chain in our area,” she said.

Eric Rose, spokesman for City Councilwoman Laura Chick, said Chick was to meet with residents to hear their views Monday night. He said Chick has not yet formed a position on the issue and would announce one before a scheduled hearing on the conditional-use permit.

Devlin said the restaurant plans to provide security patrols for the premises, she said.

“We always try to work with community,” she said.