Permit board reverses police denial, grants Rodeo West Dallas one-year late-hours exemption

Vice Chair Torres and the Permit and License Appeal Board of the City of Dallas voted unanimously on July 3 to reverse the chief of police’s denial and grant Rodeo West Dallas a one‑year exemption to operate under a dance hall late hours permit.

The board heard evidence from the appellant’s counsel, Gina Cannon, and from owner Eduardo Ellis about sound mitigation, off‑duty police and private security, and a history of no TABC enforcement problems. Detective Gerardo Monreal of the Dallas Police Department’s vice unit said the location sits within 1,000 feet of a residential area (the cited locational restriction) but described Rodeo West’s on‑site security, cameras and a low number of police reports at the club’s address in the last year. After presentations and board questioning, Member Hayes moved to reverse the chief of police’s decision and grant a one‑year exemption; the motion was seconded by Member Shin and carried by a unanimous vote.

The board’s decision turns on the narrow standard in Section 14‑3.1 of the Dallas City Code, which permits the board to reverse the police chief and grant a one‑year exemption if it finds that the proposed late‑hours dance hall will not harm public safety or welfare, will not downgrade adjacent property values or quality of life, and will not conflict with neighborhood conservation or urban renewal programs. The city read that ordinance into the record at the start of the hearing. The appellant emphasized that Rodeo West has operated at the site since 2019, conducts TABC compliance checks, stops alcohol sales at 2 a.m. and uses off‑duty officers and other security to manage orderly exits; owner Eduardo Ellis said managers check with nearby apartment managers and had not received resident complaints in recent months. Detective Monreal testified that for the period reviewed the police reports tied to the club itself were few and that he found improvements in the venue’s security and exits during his inspections.

Board members credited the venue’s improvements and Detective Monreal’s inspection report. Several members noted Rodeo West’s repeated appearances before the board and said the business had shown year‑to‑year improvement. The board’s action is a one‑year exemption; it did not alter or amend the underlying locational rule in the city code. The board recorded the motion and vote on the record and concluded the hearing.

Rodeo West’s formal remedy is the one‑year exemption granted by the board; the decision was limited to the late‑hours permit appeal and does not address other regulatory programs (for example TABC matters) beyond testimony in the hearing. The board’s order and findings will be emailed to the parties.