Tallmadge council enacts six-month moratorium on new vape and smoke-shop zoning applications

Tallmadge City Council voted 6-0 on March 13, 2025, to adopt Ordinance 2025-32, a six-month moratorium on accepting zoning applications for vape and smoke establishments in the city. The ordinance was sponsored by Mayor Kilway and brought to the council through the Planning and Zoning Committee.

Planning and Zoning Chair Mary Guttman opened a public hearing on the ordinance at 7:05 p.m. and invited comments for and against the moratorium. No members of the public spoke; the hearing was closed about two minutes later.

A staff member told council, “The moratorium lasts for 6 months. During that time, our goal is to come back with legislation if determined that that's appropriate. We just want to give ourselves an opportunity to explore.” The staff member said the city received inquiries about existing regulations and noted other communities have applied rules similar to cannabis regulations.

Council members asked whether the six-month window would be used to develop regulatory parameters; the staff member said the goal was to return with proposed legislation during the moratorium and that the ordinance would sunset earlier if council adopted regulations beforehand. The staff member added that an extension could be requested if the city could not complete the work within six months.

The roll call vote recorded yes votes from Jessica Epstein, Mary Guttman, Donald Pavlik, Ted Roy, Nick Rubino and Christine Cipa; the ordinance was adopted 6-0.

The moratorium prevents the city from accepting new zoning applications for the targeted uses while staff and council consider potential regulatory changes. The ordinance was introduced at third reading in Planning and Zoning and provides for immediate enactment.