Fantasy Island Loses Its License

A county commission Wednesday refused to renew the public eating license for a controversial entertainment facility that had been the target of neighbors’ complaints.

Avihu Datner, owner of the 23-acre Fantasy Island, said the commission’s decision will not affect his business because he closed down its restaurant two years ago and all events held there now are catered.

But county officials maintain that Datner needs the license to operate Fantasy Island.

Public eating licenses--which are required for businesses serving food--are renewed annually. In Datner’s case, however, the Los Angeles County Business License Commission informed him in May that they did not intend to renew his license and sent him a letter outlining the reasons why, including that he lacked proper building permits.

Datner said that the hearing Wednesday was his chance to respond to the letter and that he brought photocopies of the theme park’s permits to show the commissioners. But he said he walked out halfway through the hearing when the commissioners began talking about issues relating to his park other than the public eating license.

After Datner left the meeting, the commissioners voted 4 to 1 not to renew Fantasy Island’s public eating license.

“I told them I was going to leave and I left,” Datner said. “They can do whatever they want. . . . I don’t need one.”

But he does, contends a staff worker assigned to the county’s business license commission, who said that the panel’s decision may be enforced by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department or by the county health department.

For his part, Datner says he plans to continue to operate business as usual at Fantasy Island. Over the years the park’s dance pavilion, waterfalls and mood lighting have made it a favorite spot for weddings, bar mitzvahs and other special occasions.

Datner contends that he does not need conditional-use permits to operate in an area zoned for resort and recreational uses. An official at the Los Angeles County counsel’s office could not be reached for comment on that issue.

Datner maintains that neighbors who have complained about his park live miles away from Fantasy Island and that no more than 20 to 30 events are held there each year. He said he has filed suit against one of his neighbors, alleging harassment and interference with his business.

The facility has caused other legal problems for Datner, who has five cases pending against him filed by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. All the cases relate to nuisance and noise problems stemming from Fantasy Island activities, and at least three of the cases were filed last year. A hearing has been set for October.

One of Datner’s neighbors remains hopeful that the outcome of Wednesday’s hearing may finally bring closure to the case.

Victoria Willig, who lives about half a mile away from Fantasy Island on Triunfo Canyon Road, said she welcomed the commission’s decision.

“I’ve very pleased about it,” Willig said. “We hope that this will be the final say on what Mr. Datner can and cannot do.”

Willig said that noise from amplified music played at the facility and the traffic have caused discomfort and safety problems for the residents who rely on a narrow canyon road as their sole means to get in and out of the canyon.

Those concerns are heightened during the fire season, which is when Fantasy Island hosts many of its events, Willig said.