Council advances zoning change to define and regulate "specialty shops," including vape stores

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to advance the first reading of ordinance 1660, which would add a definition for "specialty shops" to the city zoning code and make those uses permitted in C‑2 commercial districts only upon review.

Planning and development staff urged the change at the meeting, citing concerns about underage access. "As part of the planning and development department, I would like to speak in favor of this," said the planning staff member (S2). The staff member told the board that many vape shops have opened in Tullahoma and that "these are harmful to our youth, especially the proximity to things like the high school, to our city parks." The proposal would let the city require case-by-case review to limit the shops' proximity to youth‑gathering places.

City legal counsel (S11) told the board the revision is necessary because Tennessee is a Dillon's Rule state and local regulation requires explicit ordinance language. "Because the state of Tennessee is a Dillon's rule state, we can only regulate and control that which is specifically included in our ordinance," counsel said, adding the definition would allow the city to treat vape and tobacco retailers separately from general retail or convenience stores and to add municipal code regulations similar to those that apply to liquor stores.

The clerk recorded a unanimous vote to adopt the ordinance on first reading. The ordinance must return for a second reading before taking effect.

If adopted, the change would give the board and the board of zoning appeals greater authority to regulate where specialty shops may operate within C‑2 commercial districts.