Board denies tobacco and vape shop proposal adjacent to Greenwood Christian Academy

The James City County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday denied a special-use permit for a proposed tobacco and vape shop at Unit 24 of the Williamsburg Crossing shopping center, after residents and school leaders urged the board to block the store because it would sit immediately adjacent to Greenwood Christian Academy.

Supervisor Ruth Larson moved to deny the application; the motion carried on roll call. The planning commission had recommended approval by a 3-2 vote, and county staff noted the applicant filed before a pending county resolution to consider a 1,000-foot buffer between such retailers and schools.

Residents described frequent student traffic through the shopping center and said the proposed shop would be unavoidably visible to children. "Allowing a vape shop to operate next to a school seems to defy common sense," said Rosalie Vecchi, who identified herself as the parent of two Greenwood students. Samantha Welcher, principal of Greenwood Christian Academy, told the board that students pass the unit daily and the playground sits approximately 60 feet from the rear of the proposed storefront: "Our students would be exposed to this business from both the front and rear of the shopping center," she said.

The applicant nd her consultant described plans to operate responsibly. "The owner is a first-time small business owner who has invested significant time and effort and is committed to operating responsibly and respectfully within the community," Kelly Parks told the board, noting the applicant had accepted staff-recommended conditions and added additional commitments after outreach to neighbors.

Planning commissioners who supported the shop said it followed existing county procedures and argued that enforcement and criminal violations should be handled by law enforcement, not land-use review. Opponents pointed to regional law-enforcement actions and a state task force addressing illegal activity at some vape shops, arguing those patterns counsel caution in siting new stores near schools.

Board members split along policy and precaution lines in discussion but ultimately sided with opponents, emphasizing school proximity and community character. The county attorney nd staff also reminded the board that state law recently authorized local buffer rules and that the board is considering a 1,000-foot school buffer; staff noted the applicant submitted its application before that amendment was on the board's docket.

With the denial, the special-use permit request will not proceed; the file reflects the board's vote and no further board action on this case was announced at the meeting.