Irving commission recommends denial of poker-room rezoning at Irving Mall

The Irving Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday recommended denial of a proposed rezoning that would have permitted a membership-based poker room on the second floor of Irving Mall.

Todd Gross, representing Big State Construction, asked the commission to rezone a shaded roughly 24,000‑square‑foot portion of a 44,000‑square‑foot suite at 3751 B Irving Mall so the company could operate a private social club focused on poker. Gross said the business would open with about 125 employees and could employ more than 400 people as it ramped up, though not all at once, and that typical daily attendance would be in the “200 to 300 people” range with larger tournaments attracting more. He also described a membership model and…