Council committee issues adverse report on proposal to convert smoke shop into vape shop

Akron City Council’s planning committee issued an adverse report on a conditional-use request to convert an existing smoke shop into a vape shop; the council approved the adverse report in a roll-call vote, 11–2.

Councilman DeShazier (spelled in transcript as DeShazier) explained that the business is already operating as a smoke shop and that Ohio law permits a ‘‘grandfathered’’ smoke shop to sell up to 25% vape products. He said the applicant sought permission to exceed that 25% threshold, which would make it a vape shop and change the nature of the use in the neighborhood. DeShazier said neighbors raised residential and commercial concerns during the June 9 conditional-use public hearing, and the committee recommended disapproval.

During the roll call, the adverse report passed 11–2; the council then filed the ordinance. The transcript does not show a subsequent local permit issuance or other council action to overturn the committee’s recommendation.

Why it matters: The vote preserves the current statutory/permits-based distinction between smoke shops and vape shops as applied by council policy and reflects neighborhood opposition to expanding a store’s permitted vape-sales activity.

What the council decided: The committee’s adverse report was approved on the floor (11–2) and the ordinance will be filed; no further action on permitting was recorded at this meeting.

Ending: The planning committee’s recommendation to disapprove a conditional use will be filed and the business’s request to exceed the 25% vape-sales threshold is effectively blocked unless reconsidered in a future proceeding.