Planners back sending tobacco‑related retail spacing proposal to council
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Summary
Staff proposed a new performance‑standards section to prohibit tobacco‑related retail stores (51%+ tobacco revenues) within 1,000 feet of schools or public parks in Community Commercial districts, exempting legally nonconforming businesses; staff notified roughly 2,600 business owners and plans to bring the recommendation to City Council on Feb. 12.
City planning staff presented a code amendment on Feb. 2 to add performance standards for tobacco‑related retail businesses.
The proposed new section defines a tobacco‑related retail business as a store with at least 51% of total sales revenue coming from tobacco products (including vaping products). Staff said the draft would prohibit new tobacco‑related retailers in Community Commercial (CC) districts if they would locate within 1,000 feet of a school or a public park, measuring property line to property line for separate parcels. Staff said existing legally nonconforming businesses would remain in operation indefinitely and that the change excludes convenience stores and other general‑retail businesses that only sell tobacco as a minor portion of sales.
Planning staff reported notifying about 2,600 business owners and operators and creating a project webpage that had modest public engagement. Staff said they reviewed the option of including churches and other institutions but followed prior council direction to focus on schools and parks, noting state notification and nonconforming rules complicate broader restraint.
Staff is asking the commission for a recommendation to City Council; the item is scheduled for Council consideration on Feb. 12.
