Planning Commission opens public‑hearing process for vape‑ and tobacco‑retail zoning changes, schedules Aug. 6 hearing

Planning staff presented draft zoning amendments to restrict where tobacco and vape retail establishments may operate in Bowling Green and the commission agreed to hold a public hearing on the draft at its Aug. 6 meeting.

Heather, planning staff, said the draft adds “tobacco or vape store” as a conditional use in the central business district (citing Section 150.42), prohibits walk‑up and drive‑through windows, and would require regulatory signage at public entry doors (Section 150.69). Staff provided two GIS exhibits: Exhibit A drew 1‑mile buffers around existing vape shops; Exhibit B modeled a 1,000‑foot buffer around community‑oriented facilities (day cares, schools, libraries, churches) and identified about 56 locations that would be excluded under that buffer.

The proposed regulations aim to limit new, dedicated vape/tobacco retailers while allowing ancillary retail (for example convenience stores that sell tobacco as part of a broader offering) to continue.…