Commission approves special‑use permit for nightclub at 115 N. Seventh Street with time and review conditions

The Planning Commission approved a special‑use permit for a proposed alcohol‑on‑premise nightclub at 115 North Seventh Street in the downtown entertainment overlay, with conditions limiting outdoor patio hours and requiring follow‑up reviews.

The applicant (Sidraz Investments LLC; tenant operator represented during the hearing) proposed a full‑service nightclub with an approximately 7,650‑square‑foot outdoor patio adjacent to the building. The operator has installed tenant improvements and sound‑mitigation work; counsel told the commission the tenant has invested roughly $400,000 in tenant improvements including state‑of‑the‑art soundproofing and new fixtures.

The nut graf: The item produced substantial negotiation among the applicant, Downtown Project (DTP) representatives and the El Cortez hotel. DTP and El Cortez raised concerns about noise for nearby short‑term lodging and multifamily units within roughly a 350‑foot radius. After meetings among stakeholders, the applicant agreed to several conditions addressing outdoor music, patio hours and review periods; the commission approved the permit with those conditions.

Representatives for DTP and the El Cortez said they sought to preserve the character of the Entertainment District and to protect hotel and cabana‑suite guests who occupy rooms within a few dozen feet of the rear alley and patio. Dara Goldsmith, counsel for DTP entities, noted 541 guest rooms and nearby residential developments fall within the noticing radius and said DTP sought a collaborative, enforceable approach that would limit disruptive sound.

Applicant counsel and the operator agreed to a set of restrictions the parties placed on the record: weekdays (Sunday–Thursday, non‑holiday) outdoor patio music shall end at 11 p.m.; weekends and holidays outdoor patio music shall end at 1 a.m.; club interior hours on school days will end at 4 a.m.; and the operator accepted a required review at six months and one year after licensing. Stakeholders additionally discussed emergency response protocols and a two‑week corrective period to address urgent complaints, which the parties said would be handled collaboratively.

The commission also requested that staff monitor compliance and suggested staff‑led follow‑up at the six‑month review. Commissioners noted the property lies in the Entertainment District overlay, but the approval demonstrates that reasonable, site‑specific conditions tied to noise and outdoor hours are appropriate and enforceable under a special‑use permit. The motion passed; the item is final unless appealed to the city clerk within 10 days.

The commission recorded the applicant’s agreement to the conditions on the public record and required the business‑license follow‑up reviews that will allow staff to revisit conditions if problems emerge.