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Chester planners review draft zoning amendment to regulate smoke shops and tobacco retailers
Summary
Planning staff presented an initial draft zoning amendment to regulate smoke shops and tobacco retailers in Chester; the proposal would restrict location to specified commercial districts, set separation distances from day cares and schools and treat existing shops as nonconforming while allowing enforcement steps to follow.
Planning staff presented a first draft of a zoning ordinance amendment on Jan. 8 aimed at regulating smoke shops and similar tobacco retail uses in Chester.
Paul Fritz, the city planner, told the commission the memo is an early step in a process that will include county review, commission input, committee review and eventual City Council action. He said the proposal draws on existing templates and would limit new smoke-shop permits in certain zoning districts and apply distance separations near day cares and schools.
Key points discussed: the draft would limit locations where new smoke shops could open (staff suggested the MIC and CBD districts rather than the LIC because LIC parcels are scattered and adjoin residential areas). In the central-business district the draft would require a 1,000-foot separation from schools or day cares; similar separation and spacing rules among smoke shops were discussed as part of the draft. Fritz said existing, lawful smoke shops would be treated as nonconforming uses and could remain, but expansions or changes would trigger review under the new rules.
Commissioners and staff discussed enforcement capacity. The commission asked how the city would locate and close illegal operators; planning staff said the ordinance language would provide enforcement mechanisms and that the zoning enforcement officer would be involved in discovery and enforcement. The commission also requested time to review the draft and submit written comments; staff said they will circulate the draft and bring a revised version back for a recommendation to council when ready.
Why it matters: commissioners described complaints about illegal and neighborhood smoke shops, and staff said an ordinance would give the city a regulatory tool to limit concentrations near sensitive uses and to pursue enforcement when shops operate without required approvals.
No formal vote was taken; staff asked the commission for initial comments and asked members to submit questions by email or at the next meeting. Fritz said the process will likely take weeks to months depending on county review and internal edits.
Direct quote: Fritz said, “This is the first step. We want to give the commission a chance to have a voice, ask some questions that maybe we can address at a later time,” and noted the amendment would follow established review steps before any council vote.
