Planning Commission approves Christmas Ministries' use permit with biweekly charitable bingo

Planning staff presented a use-permit application from Christmas Ministries to establish religious assembly uses and biweekly charitable bingo at 3721 Railroad Avenue, noting the site's existing 44 parking spaces and staff's recommended conditions (bicycle parking, signage permit, noise and loitering controls, security cameras, and fire- and building-division conditions). "Staff is recommending that the planning commission move to adopt a resolution approving the use permit application to establish a religious assembly use with biweekly charitable bingo fundraiser games located at 3721 Railroad Avenue, subject to conditions," Senior Planner Maurice Brenya (speaker 8) said.

The applicant described bingo as one fundraising activity among programs aimed at housing and supporting veterans, and said ticketing and seat limits will be used to control attendance: "We've set it up with Shopify that if people want to play bingo, they will have to register on Shopify, and therefore, so many seats will be available. When those seats have been sold out, there will be no additional players," the applicant (speaker 10) told the commission. Commissioners asked about occupancy limits (staff and the fire department confirmed the fire department sets the final occupancy) and raised security and loitering concerns. After deliberation the commission moved to adopt the resolution (planning application AP-2685) subject to the listed conditions and the chair announced the motion passed unanimously; the chair also reminded the public of a 10-day appeal period.