Lufkin council approves first reading of zoning ordinance restricting vape shops after hours of public testimony

Lufkin City Council approved on first reading an ordinance (No. 3368) that would restrict new electronic cigarette and vape-shop retail stores to light- and heavy-manufacturing zoning districts and require a special-use permit, a measure city officials said is intended to limit youth access and marketing.

City Attorney Christy Skiller, who led legal drafting and outreach, told the council the proposal grew from months of review and citizen input. "I have carefully worked over the last 5 months with several drafts of this ordinance, multiple revisions to ensure the ordinance is thoughtful, effective, and also constitutional," she said. Skiller noted two edits she recommended at the dais: a typographical correction and expanding the list of "sensitive places" to include parks, recreation facilities and arcades in addition to schools and churches.

The public hearing drew a steady stream of speakers, many of them current or former students and community health workers who urged stronger restrictions. Shaqueria Grimes, speaking as a parent and educator, said: "Vaping is not safe. It's addictive. It's damaging. And for our youth, it's dangerous." Student speakers described vaping inside school bathrooms, flavors targeted to minors and easy retail availability. Kendrick Butler, a recent graduate, said local retail density is high: "Out of the 10 stores in Angelina County, 7 of them were in Lufkin," and urged action to reduce access.

Public-health advocates presented local compliance checks and survey data. Sharon Crook, executive director of a local coalition, told the council that partnership checks with the Angelina County Sheriff's Office found underage sales: "Since the beginning of 2025, in just 7 months, 12 stores sold tobacco products to minors, and 7 of those sales were e-cigarettes," and she said five of the offending retailers were standalone vape shops in Lufkin city limits.

Skiller and staff said the ordinance attempts to balance public health goals with legal constraints. The draft sets a 1,000-foot buffer from schools, churches, day cares and other enumerated sensitive sites and treats existing vape shops as legal nonconforming uses that forfeit that status if the business ceases for six months. Skiller warned council the city must draft restrictions that can withstand judicial review and the commerce clause.

Councilmembers debated whether to broaden restrictions to non–vape-specific retailers or shorten the nonconforming-use period. Several members said they favored passage now with the option to strengthen the ordinance later. After discussion the council moved and seconded approval of the ordinance in the form presented with Skiller's two edits. The motion carried on a voice vote.

The ordinance, as approved on first reading, does not immediately force existing shops to relocate; staff and the city attorney said additional amendments and related sign- and advertising-regulation work are under way and that state law changes coming Sept. 1 will address some sign and marketing concerns.

Next steps: the ordinance was approved on first reading by council and will return for additional readings or ordinance adoption consistent with city procedure.