Think of it as a semi-final win in a tournament leading up to the championship round.

Neighborhood associations representing Lakewood, Gastonwood-Coronado Hills, and Hollywood-Santa Monica came out on top today in a City Plan Commission hearing concerning the Far West club and its 99-year special use permit.

The permit, granted by Dallas City Council in 1995 to what then was Cowboys, allows Far West to operate a dance hall in an area zoned for community retail.

The finals take place at an as-yet undetermined date in front of City Council. Today, though, the City Plan Commission voted unanimously to recommend to Council that it terminate the 99-year SUP. The Council meeting could take place as early as December or as late as the first quarter of 2009.

Henda Salmeron, Scott Clumpner, and Peter Doncaster — presidents of LNA, G-CHNA, and HSMNA, respectively — spoke on behalf of the area residents. Paul Rich, an attorney, represented Alfedo Hinojosa, who owns the Far West club.