Building Owner, Tenants Want to Outlaw Skateboarding

Skateboarding is not a crime on one private property in San Juan Capistrano – yet.

The owner and tenants at 32332 Camino Capistrano, also known as the “clock tower building” that houses Friess Company Builders, have tolerated kids on skateboards throughout the years without too many problems, said Ken Friess.

But a recent run-in with a very belligerent teen has changed all that, and now they want them gone.

“They love to jump off of the stairs ad of course we have pavers, so it makes quite a racket,” Friess said.

Still, with 11 grandchildren, Friess is pretty tolerant, and when he has enough, he usually just shoos them away, and most just leave.

Most.

“We got into a very snotty confrontation with a 15-year-old,” Friess said. “He had just gone off on us.” Deputies were called and mentioned that enforcement is a lot easier for them if the building is posted with no-skateboarding signs.

So on Tuesday’s City Council agenda is a request from Ken’s son, Dan Friess, who owns the property, to establish it as a no-skateboarding zone, with the right to place signs that say as much.

Having to go through the City Council approval process prompted a second request so that other landowners could skip the formal, public review -- and the $198 fee -- and just be able to put up signs similar to the “no trespassing” signs property owners may erect.

Staff is recommending approval on both requests, which would give property owners “more freedom to maintain their property,” the staff report to City Council says.

At one point, the city was trying to win grant money to build a small, public skate park for skateboarders. But the community, including teens themselves, was under-enthusiastic and the grant money went to other cities.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto in San Juan Capistrano. 

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