Planning commission denies conditional-use permit for proposed smoke and vape shop in Glendale Town Center

The Glendale Planning Commission on Oct. 23 denied a conditional-use permit for a proposed smoke and vape shop in the Glendale Town Center, rejecting the applicant’s request by a unanimous roll-call vote.

Staff had presented CUP25-13 as a request for a retail smoke and vape shop to occupy a 1,487-square-foot tenant space in an existing shopping center north of 40 Third Avenue. The applicant proposed Monday–Sunday hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., an estimated 30–50 customers per day and six employees (three overlapping on shift). Staff noted public-notification requirements were met and that opposition comments—filed with staff and the applicant—raised concerns about illegal sales, clustering of smoke shops, and economic impacts on competing businesses.

The commission’s action followed public comment from business owners and neighbors who said the immediate area already contains multiple smoke shops and related retailers. Alexandra Hanna, who identified herself as an owner of an existing smoke shop in the same plaza, said the business has operated since February 2018 and reported a roughly 25% drop in revenue over the past year, warning that an additional shop could force them to close. Paula Siebert, a neighborhood resident, urged commissioners to “take a really hard look” at adding another smoke shop and to consider impacts on family-owned businesses.

The applicant, identifying himself as Eladio and giving an address of 3602 East Long Lake Road, said his business is family owned, has operated smoke and vape stores in Phoenix and Mesa, and has been paying rent while awaiting licensing. He told commissioners the location was selected in part because he grew up in the northern Glendale area and that the business offers a range of tobacco and nicotine products and alternatives.

Commissioners asked staff whether the city regulates the number or spacing of smoke and vape shops. The planning division director replied there are no distance-separation requirements or limits on the number of smoke and vape retail uses; the Unified Development Code (UDC) update in 2024 separated the use and placed it in C-2 zoning, which is why conditional-use permits now come before the commission.

Following discussion, Commissioner John Crowe, Vice Chair Edwin Nyberg, Commissioner John Gears, Commissioner Brian Hooper, Commissioner Sergio Arellano and Chair Verne Crow all voted "no" on a motion to approve CUP25-13; the commission recorded the item as recommended for denial. Staff advised the decision is final subject to a written appeal filed within 15 days.

The denial leaves the shopping center without approval for this new tenant; staff noted any expansion or relocation of a similar use would require a subsequent conditional-use permit.

The commission’s decision concludes its role on CUP25-13 unless an appeal is filed to the city council within the statutory appeal period.