Chronic Cantina loses permit

The Chronic Cantina sports bar and restaurant lost their case to Mayor John Pomierski and the Upland City Council during last night's council meeting.

The council approved the resolution to revoke the restaurant's conditional use permit due to public safety concern, effective immediately.

The city Planning Commission originally approved the resolution during the commission meeting on March 25.

"It's unfortunate, I know they did a really nice job on the inside and I know they've got an investment over there and I applaud them for that, but at some point you have to look at what it does cost the city to supplement their security that obviously lacks," Pomierski said Tuesday.

"The fact that the Planning Commission took a seven to zero vote and took a stance, that is enough to speak volumes."

There have been more than 70 police service calls since the Chronic Cantina opened in January 2008, with more than 25 people being arrested, according to the commission report.

The activities include two attempted murders, two carjackings, three felonious assaults, 14 other types of assaults, one discharging a firearm, four auto thefts, four vehicle burglaries, five thefts, three driving under the influence, five public intoxications and 33 disturbances.

Four incidents have required response from an outside police agency.

A meeting was held in December between the owners of Chronic Cantina and city officials to discuss the crime issues, litter, posting of unpermitted advertising posters, weeds, as well as missing landscape, lack of parking lot striping and an unpermitted temporary sign, according to the commission report.

Since the planning commission's decision, the parking lot was striped, litter, trash and a storage container were removed and extra security was hired.

However, there have still been issues requiring police presence, weeds and an unpermitted temporary sign has not been removed.

During a presentation from the Upland Police Department, it was reported that two incidents relating to two rival motorcycle gangs being present at the restaurant have taken place since the planning commission meeting.

Robin L Haulman, the attorney representing the owners of Chronic Cantina, requested a 90 day continence to allow the owners to work with the city to determine and solve any security issues.

Haulman also said the city was treating the Chronic Cantina differently than other similar businesses within the city by sending police cars to patrol the restaurant's parking lot when no calls were made requesting police service.

Haulman said the city "did not give the owners adequate review of what problems needed to be cured nor adequate time to cure the problems."