Temecula Council resolution upholds judge’s decision to revoke CUP for The Bank

TEMECULA – Temecula City

Council adopted a resolution the week of Monday, April 24, upholding the decision by an administrative law judge for the office of administrative hearings to revoke a conditional use permit held by The Bank restaurant, 28645 Old Town Front Street. The Temecula Planning Commission also confirmed the decision of the independent administrative law judge Wednesday, Feb. 15, revoking The Bank’s conditional use permit that previously allowed for live entertainment and distilled spirits. After numerous citations and civil penalties were issued to The Bank over the course of 17 months for violating the provisions of their conditional use permit, the matter was heard before the administrative law judge Aug. 31, 2022, and Sept. 1, 2022.

Based on evidence presented by all parties, the administrative law judge found that The Bank frequently and continuously violated their conditions of approval for its conditional use permit by operat- ing beyond approved business hours permitted by the conditional use permit; by selling alcohol beyond approved business hours permitted by the conditional use permit; by providing live entertainment and music that exceeded the requirements of the conditional use permit such as a DJ with amplified noise pointed toward the street and creating excessive noise exceeding decibels permitted by the conditional use permit and the Temecula Municipal Code. Additionally, the Temecula

Sheriff’s Department and Code Enforcement established that The Bank had become a “disorderly house” in violation of their conditional use permit, and in violation of state law and local ordinances. It included assaults, threats made by The Bank’s security officers to an undercover investigator, excessive noise, public intoxication, overserving of alcohol to patrons and other disturbances.

The city of Temecula is committed to protecting the health, safety and general welfare of its community and to ensuring that the charm of Old Town Temecula continues to be a safe, family friendly destination. It is the first conditional use permit in the history of the city to be revoked. The Bank will be able to continue its operations as a restaurant, without the added conditional uses that previously included live entertainment and distilled spirits. Records of all proceedings can be found at http://TemeculaCA.gov/agendas. Submitted by city of Temecula.