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Commission adds 'tobacco shops' to C1 permitted uses; owners seeking former Premier Bank site expected to seek tenant permit
Summary
Planning staff recommended and the commission approved a zoning text amendment adding 'tobacco shops' as a permitted use in the C1 district (Highway 61 corridor) after a property owner requested the former Premier Bank/Speedway space for that use; commissioners discussed parking and whether vaping or CBD products would be included; staff said licensing and separate cannabis ordinance discussions will address related uses.
Planning staff, identified in the record as Rachel, presented a text amendment to the C1 zoning district to explicitly add 'tobacco shops' as a permitted use along the Highway 61 retail corridor. Rachel said the district already allows convenience stores, restaurants and drive-throughs but did not explicitly list 'tobacco shop,' which under the zoning code can make an unlisted specific use effectively prohibited. The change followed a request from a new property owner of the former Premier Bank and adjacent Speedway building who wants to locate a tobacco shop in that space.
Rachel said staff reviewed parking and found shared parking agreements and easements among the three properties and believes there is adequate parking; the back canopy will be removed and additional parking is planned. On product scope, resident commenter Rebecca Nimi asked whether CBD or vaping products would be sold; Rachel said staff did not know the owner’s intended inventory and recommended contacting the prospective owner for detail, and noted that convenience stores already sell vaping products under the same tobacco licensing framework. Rachel also emphasized that the cannabis ordinance work is a separate, ongoing project that will address location, buffers and counts for cannabis businesses.
A commissioner moved and seconded approval of the text amendment; the commission approved the amendment on roll call and staff confirmed the ordinance will go to the Oct. 7 council agenda.
The amendment changes permitted-use language for the C1 district; specific business licensing and any building permits will be handled through separate administrative processes and, where relevant, state or county licensing.
