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Council adopts zoning limits and nuisance classification for tobacco and vape businesses
Summary
Council unanimously adopted text amendments imposing hours limits and clarifying proximity to schools for new tobacco- and vape-related businesses, and separately adopted an ordinance adding tobacco-law violations to the city nuisance code.
The City of West Columbia City Council unanimously adopted two related ordinance changes: a text amendment to the zoning ordinance regulating tobacco- and vape-related businesses, and an amendment to the city code that adds violations of tobacco laws to the list of public nuisances.
At second reading on the zoning amendment, city planner Wayne Schuler described staff changes requested after earlier review. The staff amendment inserts a required closure period for such businesses and clarifies the meaning of K–12 schools in the ordinance. Schuler said the amendment now requires businesses to be closed between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m., and that references to K–12 schools include both public and private schools.
The nut graf: The zoning amendment (second reading) adds operational limits and clarifications intended to regulate the location and hours of tobacco stores, smoke shops and vape lounges; the council adopted the staff amendment unanimously and then adopted the ordinance as amended.
Schuler explained how the amendment will be enforced: new business-license applications will be reviewed under the new conditions, and staff will notify existing businesses about which components are enforceable immediately and which provisions may be grandfathered. He said sign-related provisions (including LED accent lighting) could be enforced promptly and staff will go through a notification process for existing businesses.
Schuler said: “Subsequent to the meeting last week, staff was asked to look at ways to regulate hours of operation. And so we've inserted a minimum that says that the business shall be closed between the hours of 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. And the other thing was to clarify that K through 12 schools would include both public and private.” Council members voted to adopt the staff amendment and then adopted the ordinance on second reading, both by unanimous voice votes.
Separately, the council held second reading of an ordinance amending Title 6, Chapter 1, Section 1 of the City Code to list violations of tobacco laws as a public nuisance. That ordinance was described as a clean staff bill and was unanimously adopted.
Ending: Schuler said staff will follow a notification process to inform existing businesses which components of the ordinance are effective immediately and which are subject to grandfathering; enforcement specifics and timelines will be provided to affected business owners as part of that process.
