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City planners and police outline zoning limits and enforcement challenges for vape shops amid spike in related robberies
Summary
Planning staff and the Richmond Police Department told the Public Safety Standing Committee on Nov. 1 that recent zoning changes aim to limit where vape shops may locate, but enforcement remains difficult and police say the businesses are targets for violent robberies.
City planning staff and police on Nov. 1 briefed the Public Safety Standing Committee on zoning rules and enforcement challenges for retail sales of tobacco and hemp 94 commonly called vape shops 94 and described an uptick in violent, takeover‑style robberies at those locations.
Kevin Javonk, director of Planning and Development Review, said City Council adopted zoning amendments (referenced in committee materials as Ordinance 2025-157) on July 28 that define "retail sales of tobacco and hemp" using a 10% threshold (by floor area, display area, sign area, inventory or gross revenue). The rule makes such uses subject to a conditional‑use process, imposes 1,000‑foot buffers from residential districts and youth‑serving places (day cares, schools, parks, libraries, places of worship), prohibits drive‑through sales and requires sales to occur inside the building. Preexisting…
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