Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Business Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners briefed on Palace Poker SUP amendment seeking 24-hour operation; staff recommends 1-week membership and security measures
Summary
Staff reviewed a requested amendment to SUP #1170 for Palace Poker at 401 E. Palace Parkway to allow 24-hour operations and shorten membership minimum to one week; Public Health and police reported no violations but police recommended on-site security and a one-year council review if hours are extended.
Planning staff told commissioners the item is an SUP amendment and compliance review for Palace Poker at 401 East Palace Parkway, proposing to amend SUP #1170 to allow 24-hour operations and to reduce membership length to one week while requiring continued adherence to existing SUP conditions.
"The current operational hours are Monday through Sunday, 10AM to 2AM, and the current membership minimum length is 3 months," staff said. Staff reported the operator checks IDs at entry, issues membership cards, holds a TABC alcohol license, and that Public Health and Environmental Quality found no violations.
Staff and the Development Review Committee recommended approval with conditions that would allow 24-hour operations, reduce the minimum membership duration to one week, keep all previous SUP conditions in effect, require on-site security if hours are extended and call for a city council public hearing one year after approval to confirm compliance.
Police participation in the review turned up no incidents to report but included a recommendation: if hours are extended the applicant should maintain on-site security and enforce minimum age requirements for employees and members. Staff told commissioners the applicant confirmed that even if authorized to operate 24 hours, they would not serve alcohol beyond the 2 a.m. TABC limit.
Commissioners and other speakers praised the venue's restaurant and renovations, asked questions about what a shorter membership period would mean in practice, and voiced both economic arguments (keeping business in Grand Prairie) and social concerns, including the risk of increased gambling-related problems with later hours. Chair Cheryl Smith and other commissioners emphasized that any change to hours should include enforcement measures and periodic review.
There was no formal vote at the staff briefing; the amendment and the one-year compliance review were presented for the commission's information and will be considered in the public hearing.
