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Council approves historic‑preservation permit with limits on predominant tobacco/THC/CBD retail
Summary
The council approved Special Permit 26016 for a corner‑store landmark with an amendment barring any business whose retail gross sales of tobacco, THC or CBD exceed 50% of total sales; the motion to amend and the main motion passed unanimously.
Lincoln — The Lincoln City Council on June 29 approved Special Permit 26016, designating a corner grocery as part of the city’s corner‑store historic overlay and adding language that limits businesses whose predominant operation is the retail sale of tobacco, THC or CBD products.
David Kerry, director of Planning and Development Services, described the amendment during the public hearing. “We are putting language in there that would limit any business whose predominant operation is the retail sale of tobacco, THC or CBD product. Predominant shall mean retail gross sales of tobacco, THC or CBD product in excess of 50% of gross sales on the premises,” Kerry said, adding that the applicant and neighborhood representatives had agreed to the wording.
Jeff Kitle of the Near South Neighborhood Association told the council the association supported landmarking the building and the 50% threshold, saying it “strikes a good balance to increase flexibility for using the building and limiting potential negative impacts on the neighborhood.”
Councilman Shob moved the amendment; the council voted 6‑0 in favor of the amendment and then 6‑0 to approve the special permit with the amended language. Council members who voted yes included Bowers, Washington, Duden, Shoe, Beckus and Weber.
Why it matters: The amendment is intended to allow adaptive reuse of historic corner stores while reducing the likelihood that those storefronts become predominantly tobacco, vape or CBD retail outlets. The restriction uses a sales‑share threshold rather than an absolute prohibition.
Next steps: The special permit is final as approved; any future change in use that would be predominantly tobacco/THC/CBD retail would fall outside the approved permit and require further review.
