VAN NUYS : Decision Pending on Swap Meet Proposal

A city zoning official said Friday he needs more information before deciding on a proposed expansion of a Van Nuys swap meet.

Daniel Green, associate zoning administrator, met with residents and swap meet owners at Van Nuys Woman’s Club to discuss the future of the Van Nuys Indoor Swap Meet at 8345 Hayvenhurst Place.

The city is reviewing the business, which had 13 conditions imposed in the past two years. City officials could revoke the swap meet’s business license if the conditions are not met.

The hearing was also to determine whether the swap meet’s owners should be allowed to open Fridays throughout the year, as well as to add 120 arcade games and hold dance competitions Saturdays and Sundays between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Lawrence Deutsch, who identified himself as one of the owners of the swap meet, said being open Fridays would allow vendors to compete against local swap meets open that day.

Van Nuys Indoor Swap Meet is now only open Fridays from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.

Deutsch said the dancing would “not be a nightclub activity at all.”

Green said concerns by residents, City Councilman Hal Bernson and Police Chief Willie L. Williams over the expanded operations prompted him to delay his decision.

Also, Green said he needed to investigate whether the swap meet had complied with its earlier conditions, such as proper marking of the parking lot and graffiti removal.