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Commission tables land-development ordinance after debate on hookah bars, smoke shops and tattoo parlors
Summary
Ordinance 25-01, which would amend land-development regulations to require pre-application community meetings and add conditional-use status for hookah/vapor bars and taverns, was tabled so staff can return with additional analysis on smoke shops, tattoo parlors and related uses.
The City Commission on Feb. 20 tabled Ordinance 25-01, which would amend the land-development code to add pre-application community meeting requirements, add hookah and vapor bars and taverns as conditional uses in commercial districts, and revise where self-service storage is permitted.
Mike Lane, the development services director, described the proposed changes: mandatory pre-application community meetings with documentation (attendee lists, minutes, affidavit), adding hookah/vapor bars and taverns as conditional uses in commercial zoning districts, and moving self-service storage to conditional use status in the general industrial district. Lane said community meetings would require developers to provide attendee lists, minutes and an affidavit confirming the meeting occurred.
Commissioners discussed whether other uses such as smoke shops, tattoo parlors and marijuana dispensaries should be considered alongside the proposed changes. Several commissioners expressed concern about the character of the downtown and wanted additional legal and policy analysis to determine whether those uses could or should be restricted. Staff warned that changes not advertised in the ordinance could not be adopted at the same meeting and would require re-advertisement and additional readings.
After discussion, a motion to table Ordinance 25-01 prevailed; commissioners directed staff to return with additional information about smoke shops, tattoo parlors and dispensaries so the commission could consider those uses together with the present proposal. The roll call recorded in the transcript shows the motion to table passed with all ayes.
What the ordinance would have done: It would have formalized pre-application community meeting requirements (attendee list, minutes, affidavit), listed hookah and vapor bars and taverns as conditional uses in commercial districts, and changed the allowed status of self-service storage in certain zoning districts.
Next steps: Staff will prepare additional information on smoke shops, tattoo parlors and marijuana-dispensary regulation and return the ordinance for future consideration and advertised readings.
