Family entertainment center at 291 S Vernal Ave

Gravity Family Amusement Enterprise, working through Cajun Consulting, plans to build and operate a family entertainment center at 291 South Vernal Avenue, on property recently rezoned for commercial use. The Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit at its last meeting. What remained was a gap in city code: it sets no parking requirement for a family entertainment center, and the closest uses are theaters, swimming pools, retail and assembly space. The commission recommended borrowing the swimming pool standard, one stall for every five people in the occupancy load, and planning staff asked the council to confirm it on Oct. 21. The parking decision is separate from the conditional use permit, which allows the use, and from a building permit and site plan, which would still be needed. The packet describes the owner as a prospective buyer and gives no occupancy figure, design or opening date, so an opening cannot be assumed. The council's Oct. 21 decision is not yet in a posted record.