Panel Overturns Encino Restaurant’s Disco Plan

Encino homeowners persuaded a Los Angeles City Council planning committee Tuesday to overturn a zoning board decision and prevent a Ventura Boulevard restaurant from opening a disco.

A.J.’s Supper Club had applied for permission to add a small dance floor to its restaurant and bar at 17337 Ventura Blvd., operating until midnight weekdays and 1 a.m. weekends. A city zoning administrator had denied that application, but the Board of Zoning Appeals overruled the administrator’s decision.

Speaking before the Planning and Land Use Management Committee on Tuesday, residents of adjacent neighborhoods said there already are at least four establishments within a block of A.J.’s that offer late-night dancing.

Neighbor Emanuel Sedacca said patrons “get a head start” by drinking while waiting in line to enter the clubs. One more disco would be too much to bear, he said.

Committee members voted unanimously to support the neighbors’ appeal and deny the dance floor proposal. The issue is scheduled to go Oct. 11 to the full City Council.