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Council directs staff to study limits on standalone smoke/vape shops; home‑occupation ordinance continued to May
Summary
Council asked staff to map concentrations of tobacco/smoke retailers and draft ordinance options (separation distances, district limits); staff also returned a draft home‑occupations zoning amendment but the council continued that item to May for further refinement.
Jurupa Valley city staff briefed the council on Feb. 19 about the legal authority and options for regulating smoke shops, vape shops and other tobacco retailers, and the council directed staff to return with maps and ordinance frameworks.
City Attorney Peter Thorson and planning staff said California law permits local restrictions on the location and concentration of tobacco retailers when the regulations are supported by findings protecting health, safety and welfare. Staff estimated roughly 14 standalone smoke or vape shops plus other retail outlets in the city that sell tobacco products, and suggested possible tools including minimum separation distances, district‑level limits and carve‑outs for nonconforming uses.
Several council members urged an initial focus on standalone smoke and vape shops because of their perceived negative secondary impacts and the potential for minors to access paraphernalia and vaping products. Councilmember comments favored preparing maps that show concentrations and concentrations by district so the council can consider tailored restrictions; staff said it would return a proposed framework and ordinance for public hearings.
Separately, the council reviewed a proposed zoning code amendment to better define and regulate home occupations (application process, storage limits, vehicle and visitor caps, exceptions for larger lots and an annual review for exceptions). Councilmembers expressed concern about strict numeric caps and the practicalities of complaint‑based enforcement. The council reopened the public hearing and continued the home‑occupation amendment to a May meeting to allow more time for policy adjustments and to consider district variations and enforcement approaches.
