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Council denies special-permit request for hookah patio at 2100 Alamo Road, citing concentration and safety concerns
Summary
After staff described a request to permit hookah use on a 1,300-square-foot patio, council members raised concerns about the number of existing smoking establishments in the corridor and about safety where thatch roofing is present; the council voted unanimously to deny the special permit.
The Richardson City Council denied a request for a special permit that would have allowed a restaurant at 2100 Alamo Road to operate a smoking establishment (hookah) on a 1,300-square-foot outdoor patio.
Staff explained the city—2—8—8s code requires smoking on patios to occur outside a 10-foot buffer from doors and windows, and noted the available patio area would be roughly 900 square feet after required buffers. The applicant said hookah service would be a small accessory to the restaurant—2—8—8s food service.
Council members raised three recurring concerns: a concentration of existing smoking establishments in the corridor, fire-safety risks connected to thatch-style roofing, and whether opening previously used garage doors would undermine the 10-foot smoke buffer. Council Member Dorian and others expressed a policy preference to reduce the number of smoking establishments in that area. Mayor Pro Tem Hutchenrider moved to deny the special permit; Council Member Dorian seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Outcome: The special-permit denial prevents the applicant from operating a smoking patio at the site as described; the restaurant may continue to pursue other uses that comply with the city code.
