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Planning commission approves conditional use permit for Fear Overload haunted house at Newpark Mall
Summary
The Newark Planning Commission on June 10 approved a conditional use permit for Fear Overload LLC to operate a 7,504 sq ft haunted-house attraction at Newpark Mall for up to 28 days this fall, with required security and no new exterior improvements.
The Newark Planning Commission on June 10 approved a conditional use permit allowing Fear Overload LLC to stage a walk-through haunted-house event at Newpark Mall (2086 Newpark Mall, Suite 1149) on selected nights between Sept. 20 and Nov. 2, 2025.
City staff said the 7,504-square-foot indoor attraction will operate on up to 28 days during that period, with session lengths of about 12 minutes and variable opening hours (5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. or 7 p.m.) and closing times between 9 p.m. and midnight. The applicant anticipates about 900 customers on peak nights and 525 on non-peak nights and plans seasonal staffing of roughly 30 employees per event night, plus security ranging from a minimum of five guards on slow nights to 12 on busy nights. Yvonne Huynh, assistant planner, told the commission the proposal requires no new interior or exterior alterations and is categorically exempt from CEQA under the cited guidelines.
Staff recommended approval after reviewing compatibility with the site's RC (regional commercial) zoning and the Newpark Place specific plan overlay. Huynh said the mall currently provides more than 5,000 parking spaces and that the parking area in front of the former Sears is typically underused; staff said customers would be encouraged to use that area.
During the public-hearing portion, Commissioner Fitts asked whether the city had recorded any police problems at previous Fear Overload events. "Have we had any police problems?" Fitts asked. Huynh replied, "I don't believe so. Not that staff is aware of." Commissioners also reported receiving positive feedback from mall tenants, with restaurants noting increased foot traffic.
No member of the public spoke for or against the project during the hearing, and the applicant did not present additional materials beyond staff's report. Commissioner Becker moved to approve the draft resolution; Commissioner Fitz seconded. The motion carried, recorded as 5 ayes.
The permit includes the conditions listed in the staff resolution, including required security staffing and compliance with the mall's existing layout and operations. The approval caps the allowable run at up to 30 days under the zoning code provision staff cited (staff interpreted the one-month limit as up to 30 days), and the commission's action was limited to the conditional use findings identified in the draft resolution.
The commission closed the public hearing and wished the applicant luck for the upcoming season.
