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Council upholds Planning Commission revocation of event-hall conditional-use permit, grants six-month wind-down
Summary
City Council upheld the Planning Commission's revocation of a conditional-use permit for a special-event venue after staff reported multiple unfulfilled conditions; council approved the revocation but allowed a six-month limited wind-down for existing bookings.
The South El Monte City Council on May 6 voted to uphold the Planning Commission's decision to revoke Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 23-03 for a special-event facility and granted the operator a six-month period to honor existing reservations and wind down operations.
Interim Community Development Director Geraldo presented staff's report, telling the council the Planning Commission had identified three outstanding conditions the applicant had not met: maintaining required permits and licenses (Condition 11), posting conditions of approval on the business website (Condition 20), and receiving a sheriff's-approved safety plan (Condition 30). Staff said building permits to convert the warehouse to an assembly occupancy had not been issued and that the business had operated without required building approvals.
At the hearing the business owner, John Mendez, said he had resolved outstanding citations, secured an SBA loan for the work, renewed business licenses and asked the council for a six-month wind-down so previously booked events could proceed. Mendez said plans were approved and permits were ready to issue but that fire and safety approvals remained in process.
Council debate referenced competing priorities: several members stressed the city's desire to be business-friendly and noted the applicant's local ties and donations; others emphasized that the Planning Commission and staff had identified unaddressed safety and permitting failures. Councilmember Manny Acosta said he had not seen sufficient evidence to reverse the Planning Commission. Mayor Pro Tem Hector Delgado and Councilmember Acosta both supported upholding the revocation while allowing a limited extension; the council voted to uphold the planning commission decision and approved a six-month wind-down period so the operator could complete existing bookings but not accept new ones.
Action details and vote: The motion to uphold the Planning Commission revocation and allow a six-month wind-down was moved by Hector Delgado and seconded by Manny Acosta. The council's recorded result was 3 in favor, 1 opposed and 1 abstention (transcript record: Acosta and Delgado yes; "Marcus" no; "Larry" abstained). The action revokes the CUP; staff described the wind-down as a limited, nonrenewable period to close operations while protecting public safety.
Staff and safety issues: Planning staff emphasized that the fire department had not cleared the project, building permits had not been obtained and the safety plan had not been finalized with sheriff's staff. Council members repeatedly cited those compliance and liability gaps. The interim director said there were no sprinklers installed and no building permits issued to allow assembly occupancy.
What next: The revocation is final as to the current CUP; the council's motion allowed a six-month period to honor existing bookings and explicitly required staff oversight to protect public safety during that period. The applicants were told they could later reapply but that the revocation stands unless future applications meet code and safety requirements.
