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Resident urges ordinance to restrict smoke and vape shops near schools, child-focused businesses
Summary
A resident asked the council to consider an ordinance creating buffer zones between smoke/vape retailers and schools, parks and day-care centers to reduce youth exposure.
A Lake Forest resident on Oct. 7 urged the council to restrict the location of smoke and vape retailers near schools, parks and child-focused businesses to reduce youth exposure to advertising and products.
Sean Fletcher, a public commenter and Clean Lake Forest volunteer, described a specific concentration of businesses at Dana Plaza (Lake Forest Drive and Trabuco) where a vape shop sits next to a Montessori preschool, a martial arts studio and other youth-serving uses. Fletcher cited research that proximity to tobacco and vape retailers increases youth likelihood of starting nicotine use and said more than 100 California cities have adopted buffer zones between 500 and 1,000 feet.
Fletcher asked the council to adopt a local ordinance establishing reasonable distance requirements while noting such rules do not ban businesses but regulate location. He also raised concerns about property-manager oversight of tenant selection and called for city action to protect children’s health.
Council did not take action on the request during the meeting; the comments were entered into the public record for potential future consideration.
