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Council enacts 180-day moratorium on new tobacco product dealer licenses to study regulations
Summary
Citing community complaints and concerns about new products sold in smoke shops, council approved a 180-day moratorium on new tobacco dealer licenses to allow staff and the zoning board to study special-use permitting, product restrictions and proximity to schools.
The Pekin City Council approved a 180-day temporary moratorium on issuing new tobacco product dealer licenses to give staff time to study whether additional zoning regulations or licensing restrictions are warranted.
Staff said complaints had increased about the number of smoke shops and about items sold in some stores that raised concerns for youth health. The moratorium will allow staff to work with the zoning board of appeals (ZBA) on a special-use permitting process and to consider rules such as minimum distances from schools, spacing between shops, and restrictions on products that pose health risks to minors.
Councilmembers discussed whether existing shops would be grandfathered; staff said zoning regulations would likely grandfather locations for distance-based rules but that license renewals and product restrictions could apply in future licensing years. Council approved the 180-day pause to give staff and ZBA time to craft regulations and return recommendations to council.
Council action: 180-day moratorium approved to pause new licenses and study regulatory options.
