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Neighbors urge Miles City to review zoning and safety after robberies at vape shop
Summary
Residents described two burglaries involving gunfire and persistent noise and lighting at Twisted Vapes (317 Yellowstone Ave) and asked the council to rezone the property back to residential; City Attorney Dan Rice and Planner Joel Nelson said an existing commercial use is grandfathered unless closed for a year and police would need to deem the business highly unsafe to require closure.
Residents from the neighborhood around 317 Yellowstone Ave told the council they are living in fear after two burglaries that included gunfire at the property now occupied by Twisted Vapes. Casey Wootan, speaking for the neighbors, asked the council to rezone the property back to its original residential zoning.
"This business has taken the comfort, calmness and safety of the neighborhood," Wootan said, asking the council to rezone the parcel.
Neighbor Matt Hanvold said the shop’s foot traffic has increased, vehicles sometimes park outside before opening with loud music, and neon lighting remains on late; he said his children's bedrooms face the business and that his family fears for safety after the robberies.
City Attorney Dan Rice and Planner Joel Nelson explained legal limits: because the parcel was rezoned to commercial and the business occupies the site, an established use is typically grandfathered and would remain lawful unless the business is discontinued or closed for a year. Attorney Rice said enforcement tied to public nuisance or safety would require action by the Police Department; Councilmember Cody Steiner asked Police Chief Doug Colombik whether the incidents could be treated as a public nuisance or public-safety issue, and councilmembers were told the police would need to deem the business "highly unsafe" for that to trigger enforcement action.
Neighbors also expressed frustration with the original zoning process, saying they believed the parcel would remain for construction/shop use and that the zoning board was not told a vape business would operate there. Planner Nelson said the zoning change had been presented as a boundary change and the zoning committee was not made aware of the vape business at the time.
Council did not take formal action at the Feb. 24 meeting; the minutes record the concerns, legal guidance and questions from council members and staff about enforcement options and potential rezoning procedures.
