Board of Zoning Appeals Gives Crown City Billiards & Lounge More Time to Address Noise, Loitering Concerns

During its meeting on Thursday, Pasadena’s Board of Zoning Appeals approved a continuance on the appeal of Crown City Billiards & Lounge, formerly known as Jerry’s Family Billiards, to overturn a Zoning Administrator’s earlier decision that limits its operations until 10 p.m. versus 1 a.m.

The consensus was made amid the Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood residents’ noise and loitering concerns centered around activities in the parking lot near the Crown City Billiards & Lounge.

“I’ve lived here since 2019, there has been an ongoing problem with Block 5 which is not just Jerry’s Billiards but Jerry’s Billiards has been part of the issue,” said resident Garth Garrett. “Between periods of June and October of 2021, there were 47 calls to the police regarding incidents at Block 5 all in the evening, after 7 p.m. most of them after 10 p.m.”

“This has been framed as a kind of city versus small business issue which I appreciate, but it is also a public safety and quality of life issue when we have people standing in our garages throwing guns into our backyards, hopping the fence in our backyard. The loitering has been consistent,” added Garrett.

At the time the Crown City Billiards & Lounge was established, there were no restrictions on the business’ hours of operation applicable to its zoning district.

But currently, billiards use is no longer permitted in the zoning district. However, Crown City Billiards & Lounge may continue operating as a nonconforming use.

Last Sept. 29, the Zoning Administrator determined that Crown City Billiards & Lounge should operate between 7 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. as required by the Zoning Code Section 17.40.070 which states that commercial uses on a site located within 150 feet of a residential zoning district may only operate between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. by-right.

A Conditional Use Permit would need to be approved to operate beyond 10 p.m.

Last October, the appellant challenged the Zoning Administrator’s determination. In the appeal, it states that the business is a nonconforming business and is not subject to Section 17.40.070.

Residents who spoke at Thursday’s meeting said the recent closure of Crown City Billiards & Lounge from 10 p.m.versus 1 a.m. has significantly enhanced public safety in their neighborhood.

Speaking to the Board members, Fransisco Yanez, owner of the establishment, said the incidents mentioned by the community, which mostly happens at the parking lot, are not related to the operations of Crown City Billiards & Lounge.

“The issues in the parking lot are not Crown City Billiards. It’s a place where people would go there to park and drink but it has nothing to do with my place,” said Yanez, further adding that his business had no issue with law enforcement.

“Let us operate because from April to now, I’ve lost — pretty much 60 percent of our business is after 10 p.m.,” Yanez added.

“It seems like external events not always in control by Crown City Billiards & Lounge is possibly the culprit for the neighbors complaints,” said Commissioner Andrea Rawlings.

“I’d like to move that we continue this item at a date not certain hopefully for small the business owner and the Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood to communicate with each other and see if there could be a win win compromise for extending the hours of the billiard room so it makes more sense and also to clean up the noise and trash issue,” Rawlings said in her motion, which was supported by all members of Board.

Commissioner Mic Hansen suggested closing the parking lot at a certain hour and even hiring a security guard to make sure there is no loitering and there is no untoward incident happening at the block.

Located at 1312 N. Lake Ave. Crown City Billiards & Lounge has been operating since January 1985.