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Council refers proposed smoke‑shop zoning amendment after staff briefing and questions
Summary
Council heard a staff briefing on a proposed amendment to Akron’s zoning code to define and license smoke shops and to set spacing requirements; no public speakers appeared and council voted to take time and refer the item for further review, with questions about grandfathering and licensing for operators who opened during the moratorium.
Akron City Council opened public hearings Monday on a proposed amendment to Title 15, Chapter 153 of the zoning code that would define and regulate "smoke shops," add licensing requirements and establish spacing rules. After a staff presentation, council referred the item for additional review rather than taking immediate action.
Planner Mike Antonucci said the text change would allow smoke shops in retail business (U‑3) and commercial (U‑4) districts subject to licensing and spacing requirements intended to prevent clustering near churches, schools, parks and libraries. Antonucci described proposed spacing standards requiring new smoke shops be at least one mile from another smoke shop and at least 500 feet from churches, public libraries, public playgrounds, public community centers, public parks, schools or community learning centers. He said smoke shops would be defined by display/floor area thresholds (10 or more floor/shelf/display areas) or by deriving 25% or more of revenue from smoke‑shop products; traditional tobacco sales would be exempt.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing. Council took time on the proposal and referred it for further review; members were told a companion piece may arrive next week or at the next meeting. Councilmember Jan Davis asked whether smoke shops lawfully operating before the moratorium would be grandfathered; Antonucci said legally operating businesses would be grandfathered but still required to obtain a license and to meet signage/guideline rules. Councilmember Gilligan warned that businesses that opened during the moratorium could be ineligible for licenses because of the 1‑mile spacing requirement.
The council did not adopt the amendment at the special meeting and asked members to review the draft; the transcript does not include an ordinance number or final text.
