Council adopts tighter conditions but fails to overturn zoning board on Western Avenue dance-permit appeal

The Los Angeles City Council on Dec. 15 presided over a prolonged and contentious hearing on a conditional-use/dance-permit appeal for La Private Dinner Club on Western Avenue. Neighbors and community groups urged denial, saying the application masked a nightclub, would worsen parking and traffic in a dense residential area, and that an earlier voluntary withdrawal of a dance request had misled the community.

Opponents told the council the applicant initially represented to zoning authorities that dancing would not be requested and then later refiled for a dance permit after securing an alcohol license. Ben Resnik, representing neighbors, said the shift alarmed residents: "This has gotten the community very, very upset because... he voluntarily withdrew the application for a dance permit and represented to the city that he does not need it." Other speakers cited saturation of liquor licenses on Western Avenue, limited street parking, and proximity to residences and schools.

Applicant representatives said the business has complied with city requirements, invested heavily in the project, and arranged off-site valet parking covenants. Ray Cordova, a spokesperson for the applicant, said the operator "has invested nearly $3 million in this project" and provided documentation of parking covenants and safety measures.

Council debate centered on competing committee recommendations. The council first voted on the Planning and Land Use Management Committee report to deny the appeals and uphold the committee recommendation; that motion failed 7–5. The council then considered and approved a set of conditions intended to mitigate neighborhood impacts: restricted closing hours (1 a.m. on most nights, 2 a.m. Thur–Sat as amended), a parking covenant with off-site valet parking (the applicant provided over 600 spaces in documents), and a limitation that alcoholic beverages be served only with meals. That package passed by roll call recorded as 11 "ayes," one "no." Because the committee report to deny failed to reach the 10-vote threshold needed to overturn the board of zoning appeals, the board’s earlier decision remains operative while the council recorded the additional conditions; the matter was left on the table for follow-up review and procedural steps.

Council members said the adopted conditions create enforceable tools to manage operations while preserving due-process protections and the city’s regulatory framework. Councilwoman Makowski, who had urged caution earlier, said she supported a phased approach to expansion and stressed monitoring: the theater of operations should demonstrate compliance before broader activity is permitted.

What’s next: The council recorded conditions to be enforced and left the underlying appeal status to follow required procedural thresholds; the matter will return for required follow-up review and to confirm compliance with the newly adopted conditions.