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White House council tables ordinance to regulate ‘high‑risk’ commercial uses after notice lapse
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Summary
Councilors heard staff presentations on proposed regulations for vape shops, payday/auto‑title/credit access businesses and gaming establishments but voted to table Ordinance 26‑0428‑01 so staff can provide required mailed notice to affected property owners.
Mayor James Wansley called the April 28, 2026 meeting of the White House City Council to order and the council moved into a public hearing for Ordinance 26‑0428‑01, a staff‑proposed amendment intended to regulate so‑called “high‑risk commercial uses.” Jake Hooter, city planning staff, told the council the proposal would create a specific‑use permit process with spacing, operation and performance standards for vape shops, credit‑access/payday auto/title businesses and skilled gaming establishments.
Hooter said staff identified a procedural requirement after the planning and zoning hearing: the city must mail notice to property owners within an affected area at least 10 days before the first public hearing. Because staff did not issue that mailed notice in time, he recommended tabling the item until the next meeting so the city can comply with notice rules and return with refined ordinance language and legal analysis.
Hooter outlined two broad options for council direction: adopt the ordinance and allow existing businesses to continue as legal nonconforming uses with new businesses required to meet the standards, or establish an amortization period requiring existing nonconforming uses to come into compliance within a set timeframe or cease operations — a choice that, Hooter said, would require legal review because it could create compensation obligations and judicial challenges.
Councilors asked about the practical reach of each option and who would be affected. One councilor said he favored more attorney review before eliminating grandfathering; another said he leans toward allowing existing businesses to remain while subjecting new applicants to spacing and permitting standards. With that guidance, Councilmember [name recorded in the transcript as the mover] made a motion to table the ordinance until the next meeting; the motion received a second and the council voted to table the item.
The tabling preserves council flexibility and ensures the city meets procedural notice requirements before taking substantive action. The ordinance will return to a future agenda after staff completes the property‑owner notice and legal evaluation.
