Hookah lounge gets OK for live DJ

DOWNEY - A live disc jockey will soon become a weekly feature at Mosaik Hookah Lounge after the Downey Planning Commission granted its owner a conditional use permit last Wednesday.The decision comes months after Mosiak owner Khaled Saab submitted a request to host a DJ at the lounge from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. According to the city staff report, Saab doesn't want a dance floor or other live entertainment at this time, just ambient music for his customers. The commission voted unanimously to grant the permit, but prohibited live music after 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sunday through Wednesday, the music must be cut off by 1:30 a.m. City officials believe a live DJ at the hookah lounge, located at 11029 Downey Ave., will not cause any adverse effects to residents or the surrounding businesses. Since it opened more than a year ago, there have been no reported major incidents at the lounge, according to the Downey Police Department. The Planning Commission also approved a secondary driveway at a recently-constructed two-story, 10,479-sq.-ft. residence in north Downey. According to the staff report, property owner Luis Saavedra is seeking to add a second driveway that will provide access to a recreational vehicle storage pad on the property at 9611 Garnish Drive. About 152 feet separate the two driveways. The property itself is an irregularly-shaped parcel that totals 36,590 square feet. Improvements on the property consist of two car garages, a pool, trellis patio and roofed barbeque island in the backyard. The proposed RV pad will be placed behind a combination 6-ft. high block wall and rolling wrought-iron gate. Once completed, recreational vehicles are the only vehicles permitted to use the secondary driveway.

********** Published: July 26, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 15