Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 5:06 AM
-----Original Message-----
From: Lisa Cahn
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Subject: A&M BBQ -- October 6 agenda item
Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers,
I am a Sebastopol resident and live about a block away from A&M BBQ. I am writing to oppose the idea of changing the zoning to allow A&M BBQ to continue polluting the air in our residential neighborhood with their large commercial smokers. I'm asking that you resume enforcement of the existing zoning requirements so that we in this area can enjoy our homes and environment.
Our neighborhood has been subjected to horrible air quality that should never have been allowed. The business has been skirting the city's wood smoke ordinance by using the clause allowing backyard barbecues: those smokers are not the equivalent of a backyard cooker, but spew air that stinks up my house and is totally unhealthy to breathe. I have to run air filters day and night. When my bedroom's air purifier filter was full, it stopped working altogether and my room smelled like burnt flesh for days. Being unable to enjoy clean, fresh air has affected our quality of life, especially since we depend on the night air for cooling the house during hot summer and fall days.
The smoke they emit has serious health effects and if A&M is allowed to stay, they should be required to install a good quality filtration system that is regularly monitored and maintained. I worry about the residents in the convalescent home which is even closer to the smokers, as well as the hospital and lowincome housing development just upwind of them. Many people in the neighborhood have health issues that could only be exacerbated by the terrible air quality we've had to put up with for over a year.
Thank you for your consideration,
Lisa Cahn