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Resident raises concern about smoke shop near Warren schools; village says licensing falls to Lake County
Summary
A Gurnee resident told the village board she is concerned a smoke shop near Warren Middle School and Warren Township Park is located within walking distance of students; village officials said the business licensing and location falls under Lake County jurisdiction, limiting the village's regulatory authority.
GURNEE, Ill. — During public comment at the June 2 village board meeting, resident Jennifer Doerr urged the board to address an off-site smoke shop located near Warren Middle School, the Warren High School senior campus and Warren Township Park, saying she was upset the business operates within walking distance of students.
“I am here to express concern about a business right on topic with businesses. There is a business called Off City Smoke Shop, and it is in the neighborhood of the middle school and that senior campus of the high school and next to Warren Township Park,” Doerr said. She described the location as “in walking distance of … teenagers” and said she was disappointed the shop is sited so close to schools.
A village representative responded during the meeting that licensing and location for that specific property fall under Lake County’s authority where the property lies outside village municipal control; the official said the village can provide a voice but does not have the regulatory authority to revoke or issue a county license.
Doerr said she had visited the shop and asked about its age-verification practices; she told the board she was concerned that the shop’s presence normalizes vaping and nicotine use near students. The board did not take formal action at the meeting on the comment; officials advised that residents concerned about licensing and location may seek review by Lake County.
