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St. Albans adopts zoning limits for smoke shops and adult-entertainment businesses
Summary
The St. Albans City Council approved zoning amendments on second reading that define and restrict smoke shops and adult-entertainment uses, limit signage and lighting, and bar those uses as home occupations.
The St. Albans City Council on second reading approved zoning amendments that define “smoke shop” and prohibit smoke shops and adult-entertainment uses as home occupations, limit their signage to half the normal square footage, and require signage illumination to be external and non-animated.
City planning staff presented the package as a narrow set of changes focused on definitions, allowable locations and signage standards. “The first amendment establishes the definition for smoke shop, and it's pretty broad,” Chip, planning staff, said, describing the intent to capture smoke-, vape- and like uses. He explained that signage lighting for those uses “shall be limited solely to external illumination” and that “no signage shall flash or be animated.”
The amendments include: a definition for smoke shop intended to capture vape and related retailers; a prohibition on operating smoke shops or adult-entertainment businesses as a home occupation or home industry; a limit that signage for those uses may occupy no more than 50% of the square footage otherwise allowed for a business; and a lighting rule that permits only external, downward-facing illumination and bars integrated, flashing or animated signs.
A council member asked whether other businesses would still be allowed internally illuminated signage; staff clarified these lighting and animation limits apply specifically to the newly defined smoke-shop and adult-entertainment uses. After questions, a motion “to approve the zoning amendments for smoke shops and adult entertainment as presented” was made and seconded; the council voted in favor and the motion passed on second reading.
The vote closed the public hearing on the second reading and sent the adopted text into effect as the council directs in its standard process. The amendments were presented as a discrete change and as part of larger zoning updates that staff are simultaneously advancing for the city’s comprehensive code.
