Wylie council requires special-use permits, distance rules for smoke shops

The Wylie City Council on March 25 approved an amendment to the city's zoning ordinance that removes smoke shops as a use by right and requires a special-use permit and minimum separation distances from churches, public schools and similar uses.

City planner Mr. Haskins told the council the change amends the land-use charts and Section 7 of the zoning ordinance to "eliminate smoke shops as a allowed use by right, require an S U P for said smoke shops, and, also establish requirements for distances, from churches, public schools, and that sort of thing." He said the proposal reflected changes discussed at prior work sessions and had been recommended for approval by the planning commission.

The council opened the public hearing and received no public speakers on the item. Council members discussed implementation clarifications during the meeting; Mayor Pro Tem Forrester noted the ordinance would not apply retroactively to existing businesses and Mr. Haskins confirmed that the new rules would apply prospectively if adopted. Councilman Dave Strang thanked staff for the work preparing the amendment.

Councilman David R. Duke moved to approve the ordinance as presented; Mayor Pro Tem Forrester seconded. The motion carried 6-0 with Councilman Sid Hoover absent. The ordinance later was recorded in the meeting packet as Ordinance No. 2025-12 and zoning case 2025-02 permitting a smoking establishment only under a Downtown Historic District special-use permit.

The change will require future smoke shop proposals to proceed through the special-use permit process, where conditions and distance requirements can be imposed, rather than being permitted outright under the base zoning. The council did not make other changes to the draft presented at the meeting.