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Commission recommends adding private social club and poker lounge to Rowlett code; sends ordinance to council 4–2
Summary
The commission voted 4–2 to recommend a zoning text amendment that would add "private social club and poker lounge" as a use subject to a special use permit, accompanied by use‑specific standards (members‑only, 21+, no house take, SUP for alcohol, and 300‑foot separation from residential/schools/churches).
The Rowlett Planning and Zoning Commission on June 10 voted 4–2 to recommend that city council amend the zoning ordinance to add "private social club and poker lounge" to the table of uses and to adopt use‑specific standards.
City staff said the proposed amendment would add the use to Chapter 77‑300 and create regulations requiring members‑only access, a minimum age of 21 for entry, and a prohibition on an operator taking a cut of gaming winnings. Alcohol service would not be permitted by right and would require a special use permit. Staff said proposed distance standards would require locations be at least 300 feet from residential property, schools or churches; the use would be allowed in C‑2, M‑1 and M‑2 districts via SUP and could be tailored as an SUP in form‑based districts.
Applicant representatives from an operator currently running a room in Burleson described a membership model funded by membership fees and paid seating, background‑check screening for members, on‑site floor managers and security, and community fundraising activities. Sean Catlin, who identified himself as affiliated with the operator, said earlier rooms in the DFW area have not generated member‑on‑member criminal incidents and that operators would be willing to accept SUP conditions, including hours and security requirements.
During question and debate, commissioners asked about incident history, policing, invitations to other clubs, alcohol permits and places where the use would be allowed. Commissioner Pollard recounted historical examples of illicit back‑room gambling in other cities as a caution about opening the code broadly; other commissioners argued placing the use in the code with SUP review allows the city to set guardrails on a case‑by‑case basis.
Commissioner Hernandez moved to recommend the ordinance to city council as written (allowing the use in C‑2, M‑1 and M‑2 and by SUP in the form‑based districts); Commissioner Wilson seconded. The motion passed 4–2 with one member absent. The recommendation now goes to city council for final action and any SUP requests will be considered individually with possible additional conditions.
The staff report and proposed text amendment will accompany the commission’s recommendation to council, which will have the final authority to adopt or reject the ordinance and to attach conditions or geographic limits.
