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Board delays votes on proposed massage and tobacco establishment codes pending county review
Summary
Trustees opened hearings on proposed code changes that would tighten licensing, require annual permits and police inspections, and restrict proximity to schools; both the massage (PLLE 2026) and tobacco (PLLF 2026) hearings were adjourned to March 23 pending Westchester Planning review.
The Village Board opened public hearings on two related local laws — PLLE of 2026 (massage‑establishment code revisions) and PLLF of 2026 (tobacco‑establishment code) — then adjourned both hearings to March 23 to await Westchester County planning review and additional staff clarifications.
Staff described PLLE as strengthening special‑use permit requirements for massage establishments, creating an annual (rather than biennial) permit and adding a police inspection requirement; it would also prohibit massage establishments within 1,000 feet of a school or library and reduce permitted hours from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m. The draft also explicitly carves out short ancillary services such as chair massages in barber/beauty shops.
The proposed tobacco‑establishment code is closely modeled on the massage language and would require a special‑use permit, annual permitting, and police inspections for retail tobacco establishments. Staff said the policy aims to prevent bad actors from opening a nominally lawful business and then operating illicit activity under that cover.
Board members voiced concern about unintended burdens on legitimate local businesses (for example, nail salons offering short chair massages) and discussed options for spot checks or more frequent inspections for suspected problem stores. Staff emphasized the draft can be revised before a vote and that the county’s 30‑day review could allow the board to proceed if Westchester Planning does not respond within that period.
Both hearings were left open but adjourned to the board’s March 23 meeting; no final regulatory changes were adopted on March 9.
