The journey for Minc’s SUP renewal started yesterday.
Julie Campbell of Minc, and the new club manager, Tim Austin, went before the
CPC (City Plan Commission) to plead their case. Members of D.E.E.P.—Marc Traynor,
Shawn M., and I—were there to support them too. Some additional supporters came
out, including Ulysses, owner of the Fallout Lounge.
The hearing was very long and drawn out—it lasted over an
hour, I believe. There was significant opposition, mostly by corporate
landowners and their representatives. Towards the end, a motion was made to
deny Minc’s SUP and that motion was seconded. Eventually, after much debate, the
motion to deny was put to a vote, but it did not pass (11 to 4, as I recall).
Finally, another motion was made to approve their SUP, and after additional
stipulations were worked out, it was seconded and then approved. So, Minc
survived the City Planning Commission—barely.
It is interesting to note that the objections by the
members of the Commission were different in character than most of what we saw
last year. The members of the CPC agreed that Julie was a responsible business
owner that contributed to the community—even several of the ones that voted
against her agreed on that point. One of the main objections by CPC members was
that the "land usage didn't fit the community". And while the language
of the SUP requirements for PD 269 (Planning District 269) does speak about the
appropriateness of the land usage in the community, it leaves it open to broad
interpretation as to what that exactly means. It was in this context, that
there was once again discussion amongst Commission members about the “new vision
of Deep Ellum,” but little was said to actually define it. Unfortunately, I think this will reinforce one
of the primary fears that some in the Deep Ellum community share: now that the
numbers have dwindled, it will be easier to pick off the businesses that are
legitimate, responsible, and in compliance, but don’t necessarily fit this ambiguous,
and possibly ominous, "vision."
Of
course, these actions are not without precedent: last year, Dallas Custom
Tattoos was denied a permit on this basis too, even though they were in full
compliance otherwise. At the time though, some assurances were made that this
attitude would only be taken toward new tattoo and piercing studios. And that
was true--until today.
Well, it ain’t over for Minc yet, now it’s on to City Council….