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Mall owners oppose proposed private club and card room at Irving Mall site
Summary
A developer seeks an SP‑1 detailed site plan to convert a two‑story former anchor at 3751 B Irving Mall into a private card room with restaurant and on‑site alcohol service; planning staff recommended denial and planners reported three written oppositions from major mall parcel owners including Macy's.
Planner Gina Costanza Grant presented Zoning Case 2024‑358cc, a request to rezone a 24,000‑square‑foot former anchor space at 3751 B Irving Mall (State Highway 183 overlay) from Community Commercial to an SP‑1 detailed site plan to permit a private club/card room combined with a restaurant and on‑premise alcohol sales.
"They are requesting to change the zoning from CC, Community Commercial... to an SP 1 RAB, which is a detailed site plan for a private club," Grant said, describing the two‑story lease space and noting the application was submitted in September 2024. She told commissioners the space is in condominium ownership (anchors sold into separate condo tracks) and that the applicant proposes to use the top floor of the former JCPenney space.
Grant said staff recommended denial and that planners had received no letters in support and three letters in opposition, including from Macy's and a mall ownership entity identified in staff materials. Commissioners asked whether the opposing letters represented the mall majority owners; staff said those three owners reached the threshold that could require a two‑thirds majority vote on a change that affects common‑interest ownership.
Grant described an illustrative floor plan showing seating for card games, rooms for virtual games and a restaurant/bar area and displayed maps showing ownership parcels and a 200‑foot notice area. She also noted that the city adopted a new definition and classification for "card houses" in October 2024 and that this application was filed before that change, so the SP‑1 detailed site plan was the available path for review.
Commissioners asked for copies of the opposition letters and a precise application filing date; staff noted the materials would be provided to commissioners. No public testimony was taken in the work session; the item is scheduled for the evening public hearing where applicants and opponents can speak.
Provenance: Planner Gina Costanza Grant presented the case and described ownership and opposition letters during the work session presentation (transcript start 00:06:16).
