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Commission approves mahjong board-game business at Hilton Plaza after questions on parking and gambling
Summary
The Planning Commission approved CUP26-001 to allow a mahjong board-game business at 227 West Valley Boulevard Unit 328 (Hilton Plaza), with conditions (surveillance, English signage, minimum staff, no gambling) after commissioners queried parking, smoking/ventilation and enforcement; the motion passed 4–0.
The San Gabriel Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for a mahjong board-game business at 227 West Valley Boulevard Unit 328 (Hilton Plaza).
Senior Planner Christine Song presented CUP26-001 and corrected a clerical error in the staff report, noting the unit is currently operated as a board-game studio under a prior CUP and that the new request is a different use. She described hours of operation proposed at 2 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., conditions that include alarm and video surveillance, minimum of three employees on site, upper-half glazing for visibility and an explicit prohibition on gambling for cash prizes. Song said the police department, city attorney and city manager reviewed the supplemental application.
During commissioner questions, one commissioner asked for confirmation that the parking requirement would not change under the Valley Boulevard specific plan; Song replied the parking requirement remains the same because the prior use and the proposed use fall under the same category. A commissioner pressed for assurances against illegal gambling: "What assurance do we have that...there would be no illegal gambling at the business?" Song replied that approval would be conditioned to prohibit gambling and that a CUP could be revoked or brought back for reevaluation if violations occur.
The applicant (speaking at the public podium) said rooms would generally be rented by the hour (about $20 an hour) for small groups and that typical peak occupancy would be 4–6 people per room; the applicant confirmed peak times around 6–8 p.m. and said the business would check IDs and follow rules. Commissioners suggested bilingual signage (English and Chinese), improved ventilation to address smoke concerns, and noted that building-code questions such as maximum occupancy should be handled by building services.
After discussion and a motion, the commission approved CUP26-001 by roll call vote (4–0; Vice Chair McMorris absent). Commissioners and the applicant exchanged congratulatory remarks at approval. The permit includes the staff-recommended conditions prohibiting alcohol and gambling, requiring surveillance and staff on site, and specifying glazing and signage requirements.
