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Hearing officer fines 108 Connecticut Avenue store $7,563; staff says special-permit application still needed
Summary
At a Dec. 3 hearing, the hearing officer imposed a $7,563 assessment against the property at 108 Connecticut Avenue after staff said the tenant had not filed the required special‑permit application for vape/tobacco use; police activity and removed landscaping were discussed and the planning staff provided next steps for compliance.
Hearing Officer Robert Maslin on Dec. 3 imposed a $7,563 fine on the property tied to 108 Connecticut Avenue after staff advised the owner/tenant had not submitted a required special‑permit application for what the city now treats as a vape‑shop use.
Mister Hall, the deputy zoning inspector, told the hearing the city had received an incomplete application and that principal planner Brian Baker had confirmed no complete application or fee had been filed. Police activity in September — including reported seizures of THC products — and the removal of previously required landscaping were recorded in the hearing file.
Manish Patel, who attended the hearing, described being in contact with the city and the landlord and said he had tried to forward materials to the landlord/partner. City staff produced a signed green card showing certified service and reported that no hearing request was filed within the ordinance timeframe; Maslin calculated outstanding days at the ordinance rate and assessed an administrative fine composed of $7,500 plus a $63 constable fee.
Maslin summarized: “So we're gonna post a fine of $7,563,” and later reiterated he was imposing $7,500 plus the $63 constable fee. He closed the citation administratively while noting that if the business continues to operate without completing the special‑permit process, additional citations will issue.
Staff told the business and property representatives that to pursue lawful operation the tenant/owner must submit a completed special‑permit application, pay required fees, and comply with submission requirements posted on the city website; the application will lead to a public hearing before the Planning & Zoning Commission.
What happens next: staff will notify the property of the assessment and confirm that the special‑permit application materials are available online and via planner Brian Baker; continued noncompliance may trigger additional citations or enforcement actions.
