CHATSWORTH : Pool Hall to Seek Zoning Variance

Fighting to stay in business, the owners of a Chatsworth pool hall will argue for a variance to keep the city from shutting it down at a hearing Monday before a city zoning official.

Bully’s Billiards at 21623 Devonshire St. was ordered to comply in January after city building inspectors determined that its occupancy permit was invalid, said building inspector Mark Cutler.

The pool hall, which was granted a valid operating permit by the Los Angeles Police Commission last year, is located in a zone that specifically prohibits pool halls, said Joey Vasquez, city zoning investigator.

Owner Joan Urrutia could not be reached for comment. A pool hall manager, reached by phone, has said the city erred in its issuance of permits for the property but declined to comment further.

Bully’s Billiards, which has been open several months, is seeking a variance to continue operating the nine-table billiard hall--a first step toward obtaining a valid occupancy permit for the business.

Cutler, of the Community Safety Division of the Department of Building and Safety, said he didn’t know why his office had given the Police Commission clearance to issue a permit for Bully’s when the zoning on the site didn’t permit it.

The hearing Monday will be at 2:30 p.m. in the Van Nuys Woman’s Club, 14836 Sylvan St., Van Nuys.