Planning commission recommends denial of proposed CBD and smoke shop near Hiram high school

The Paulding County Planning Commission recommended denial of a special‑use permit for a proposed CBD store and smoke shop on a 1.12‑acre parcel at the northeast corner of Hiram‑Ackworth Highway and East Pawnen Drive.

Staff recommended denial after finding two of the county’s 14 SUP review standards were not met: whether the use would cause a significant adverse effect on the neighborhood and whether it would adversely affect public health, safety, welfare or moral concerns. The commission voted to follow staff’s recommendation.

Applicant Vamsi Vasaretti told the commission he plans to operate a first‑time, owner‑operated store that would sell CBD products for people and pets and some smoke‑shop items. He said he would be an owner‑operator and that, if approved and later sold, he would not transfer the SUP. The applicant told commissioners he is renting a small unit and has not executed leases or obtained state or federal regulatory approvals.

A representative speaking from the school system, identified in the hearing as Mister Wilkes, told commissioners that electronic smoking device use among middle and high school students drives a large share of disciplinary actions. "Last year, there were 446 events for a disciplinary action, half of those being long term suspensions," Wilkes said, and warned that the proposed location would be "highly enticing for particularly high school aged youth" given its proximity and easy access by vehicle.

Commissioners asked staff whether Georgia DOT plans for a State Route 92 widening project would affect the parcel. Staff said Georgia DOT has a widening project for the SR‑92 corridor that shows the parcel as a displacement; construction was discussed as likely to begin in 2027 and the parcel could be taken by the project. Commissioners noted that an SUP would not automatically transfer if the business relocated to a different parcel in a different zoning district.

Following discussion, a motion to recommend denial carried with a commission vote of 6 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstention. Staff noted two stipulations that would have applied if the commission had chosen to recommend approval; the applicant said he was not familiar with those stipulations and had not secured required state or federal permits at the time of the hearing.

Staff corrected a verbal reference in the packet to identify East Paulding High School correctly; no members of the public spoke in opposition at the meeting. The applicant was advised to consult staff after the meeting to discuss options.