Mexican restaurant stretches fiesta to the limit

At Senor Carlos Grill and Tequila Lounge in Agoura Hills, go-go will be a no-no if the Agoura Hills Planning Commission has its way.

Commissioners debated Feb. 19 whether the owner of the Canwood St. restaurant, Carlos Orozco, should be allowed to keep his conditional use permit— which allows live entertainment such as go-go dancers—after he repeatedly violated city ordinances.

The business, which began as a restaurant, received an entertainment license from Los Angeles County in November 2007. Within a year, the city received complaints from nearby residents about loitering problems, noise and other issues relating to entertainment at the venue.

City inspectors discovered several violations, including blocked exits, alterations to the approved floor plan, and entertainment continuing after approved hours.

When brought before the planning commission on Dec. 18, 2008, Orozco promised to correct the violations. Commissioners decided to continue monitoring the business rather than pull the permit.

Upon reinspection of the restaurant and lounge on Jan. 30, the city's staff once again found several violations. Food service stopped early—at 9:30 p.m.—to allow the staff time to prepare the area as a nightclub. The 1,100square-foot dining floor was cleared for entertainers and dancing by customers, who paid a $20 cover charge. Featured entertainment included a disc jockey and adult female go-go dancers who performed every hour, a city staff report said.

Orozco told planning commissioners at the February meeting that all violations, including staying open past 1:30 a.m., have been corrected.

"The last thing I want to do is get in trouble," Orozco said. "I don't want to lose my liquor license."

Commissioner Illece Buckley Weber said that she stopped in to eat at the restaurant at 9:50 p.m. only to find that the restaurant had closed. She said there were two groups of young adults drinking alcohol in the parking lot. She asked Orozco if he monitored the parking lot. He said security started at 10 p.m.

"I wasn't happy the first time this came to us," Commissioner Curtis Zacuto said. "It also upsets me that after monitoring there were still violations." He suggested that a public hearing be conducted to allow public input on whether a conditional use permit for entertainment is still appropriate.

"There appears to be some substantial changes to what we envisioned," said Commissioner Steve Rishoff. "Go-go dancers were certainly not a vision for me. The entire use of the premises may have changed."

Commissioner Cyrena Nouzille said the wording in the permit regarding entertainment was murky and could be interpreted as allowing dancers as entertainment. "It's one thing what's in your heads at the time, but on paper . . . it has to be taken at face value." An amendment, she said, would require another public hearing.

Commissioner John O'Meara said the current use was just a "shadow" of what was intended for the business.

Orozco said he wants the opportunity to amend his conditional use permit. A new public hearing will be scheduled for sometime in March, city officials said.