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Akron planning committee advances 180-day moratorium on smoke and vape shop approvals
Summary
The Akron City Council Planning Committee voted to give a favorable report to an ordinance imposing a 180-day moratorium on approvals that would allow new smoke shops or vape shops to open in the city, after members and staff cited rapid proliferation and emerging cannabis-derived products.
The Akron City Council Planning Committee voted to forward an ordinance that would impose a 180-day moratorium on issuance or processing of any license, building permit, certificate of occupancy, conditional use or other authorization that would allow a smoke shop or vape shop to open in Akron.
City staff told the committee the pause is intended to give the city time to study how to regulate a recent wave of vape-related businesses and newer cannabis-derived products and to “get the proper handle on this particular type of business.”
“This piece of legislation just, is going to press pause on, conditional use approval for vape, vape shops, allow us to, do the due diligence that we need to do in order to get the proper handle on this particular type of business,” City staff said during the discussion.
Council Member Hanna said the moratorium was overdue and described heavy concentrations of vape and smoke shops in the city’s inner neighborhoods. “This ordinance needs to have been done 2 months ago because I saw it coming,” Hanna said, adding that some shops had opened without clear licensing.
Council Member Kamer asked whether the city is enforcing existing rules against businesses operating illegally. City staff said the prosecutor’s office had visited some businesses in recent weeks to make owners aware of regulatory limits and that investigations and enforcement are underway where possible under current law. “We are, as we’re made aware of these situations, we’re investigating and where there’s action that we can take within the current scope of regulation we’re taking it,” the presenter said.
After discussion, the committee moved to suspend the rules and give a favorable report to the ordinance; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote.
The ordinance text read into the record would bar issuance or processing of authorizations enabling establishment or opening for business of a smoke shop and/or vape shop in the city of Akron for 180 days "in order to ensure the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Akron and declaring an emergency." The committee did not adopt any additional enforcement provisions during the meeting; staff said the pause will allow time to develop regulatory options in coordination with the law department.
The moratorium will next proceed according to the council’s legislative process.
