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Council affirms permit for Matcha Swag Dance studio at Newpark Mall after review; council faults mall condition but approves business
Summary
The City Council reviewed a call for review of a Community Development Director approval for a minor use permit to operate Matcha Swag Dance at Newpark Mall. After debate about the mall’s tenancy and property management, the council voted 5–0 to affirm the director’s decision and approve the permit with no changes.
The Newark City Council on Sept. 11 affirmed the Community Development Director’s July approval of a minor use permit allowing Matcha Swag Dance to operate in Unit 1093 at Newpark Mall.
Assistant planner Yvonne Winn summarized the permit approval process, noting the use is categorized as “instructional services” under Newark Municipal Code section 17.08.0.02 and that the director found the requested findings could be made. The studio proposes evening and weekend classes, small sessions with two instructors and 5–15 students per class, minimal interior changes (wall-mounted mirrors) and portable sound equipment. Staff reported the mall has a significant surplus of parking (roughly 1,892 spaces above the specific plan requirement) and concluded the proposal would not worsen parking or circulation.
Applicant Renuka (Renu) Raj told the council the Newpark Mall location is “our main studio” and said families and students use it as a hub for practice and performances. Raj said the business paused classes after learning the council had called the item up; she said the studio had stopped operations for roughly three months while waiting for the council’s review.
Council discussion focused on two strands: whether the minor use permit met code standards for instructional services, and broader concerns about Newpark Mall’s tenancy and property management. Community Development Director Stephen Turner told the council that the Newpark Place specific plan governs the site and that a retail subplan is expected to be updated with each phase of residential development. He said city staff have been coordinating with mall management and property owners to recruit tenants and explore re-tenanting of large vacant anchor spaces.
Councilmember Stephen Grindahl said he called the item up to highlight “the malfeasance that the mall has been going forward” and urged staff to hold the mall more accountable for code violations and vacancy problems. He also explicitly said he supported the dance studio’s permit.
Councilmembers emphasized that, although the mall’s broader condition is a separate concern, denying the studio would penalize a small business and families who rely on the space. After debate, Councilmember Grindahl moved to approve the permit with no changes; the motion was seconded by the vice mayor and passed 5–0.
The permit approval allows the studio to offer scheduled classes under the director’s conditions of approval. Councilmembers said they expect staff to continue engagement with mall management on long-term solutions for Newpark Mall.
