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Prattville council adopts temporary moratorium on package stores, gas stations and vape shops
Summary
The Prattville City Council voted to impose a temporary moratorium on permits and approvals for package stores, convenience stores, gas stations and vape shops to allow a review of zoning rules; council extended the moratorium to May 5, 2026.
The Prattville City Council on May 6 adopted an ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium on permits and approvals for package stores, convenience stores, gas stations and vape shops inside the city limits, effective on passage and publication and extended to May 5, 2026.
Councilors said the pause will give city staff and elected officials time to review zoning code provisions that regulate those business types and consider changes intended to address public-safety and neighborhood concerns. Councilor Whaley moved the ordinance and later successfully moved an amendment extending the moratorium’s expiration date from November 2025 to May 5, 2026; the council adopted the amended ordinance by voice vote.
The moratorium text, read into the record by Councilor Whaley, said the pause is intended to “protect the public health, safety, and welfare of its residents” while the council reviews zoning provisions and that businesses with a building permit or an Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board license application filed before the ordinance’s effective date are exempt. The ordinance cites local licensing categories and the city’s code section referenced in the reading.
At the meeting, Councilor Whaley told colleagues he had expected a one-year window to complete the review and moved to extend the moratorium’s effective date. He said the change was intended to allow more time for drafting ordinance revisions. Councilor Jackson suggested the council also consider enforcement measures aimed at preventing youth access to vapes and recommended working with the police department on enforceable options.
Several members of the public addressed the council on related issues before the vote. Dennis Mullins, a Prattville resident, said he supported action but asked the council to extend the moratorium “at least a year,” arguing zoning changes and related meetings take considerable time. The council’s amendment extended the moratorium by roughly six months beyond the original expiration.
The moratorium was adopted after a motion to suspend the rules so the council could vote the same night. The council did not record a roll-call tally for the final adoption; the ordinance passed by the council’s recorded voice/hand vote.
