Chesterfield County could institute new zoning rules for stores that sell vaping, hemp and similar products. (Jack Jacobs photo)
The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors is expected to decide Wednesday on whether to adopt new zoning rules for specialty stores that sell vaping, hemp and similar products.
Teed up for a vote is an amendment to the county’s zoning ordinance to regulate the sale of “recreational substances,” which would be a newly defined term in the ordinance that covers tobacco, vaping, hemp and kratom products as well as associated paraphernalia.
Stores that have 25 percent or more of their inventory or 15 percent or more of their display areas taken up by such products would be required to be at least 2,000 linear feet from the property line of pre-K through grade 12 schools, and also the same distance away from the property lines of similar stores, according to the draft amendment language.
Those stores selling such products would also only be allowed to operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Sunday.
Existing retailers would not have to relocate or change their operating hours if they’re in violation of those proposed limitations, Chesterfield Planning Director Andy Gillies said Monday.
Future stores could only operate in limited commercial zoning districts (C-3, C-4 and C-5) in the county and with special permission from the Board of Supervisors by requesting and receiving approval for a conditional-use permit. Retailers with on-site consumption lounges would be limited to C-5 districts.
The county’s zoning ordinance governs what businesses can operate where and currently does not specifically address stores that sell things like CBD, tobacco and kratom. County officials feel they pose a public health concern, particularly for kids, and that it was necessary to create definitive policies for the stores.
“We were concerned about some of the reports that we were seeing about the propensity of younger adults to use these recreational substances,” Gillies said. “This is a business market that our original zoning ordinance didn’t even dream of, so where we fit this in our existing zoning ordinance has been a black hole for a while. There are a number of these (businesses) existing in Chesterfield and the number is growing.”
Chesterfield staff determined there were at least 235 stores that sold tobacco products and nicotine vaping products in the county as of September.
The proposed regulations are geared toward specialty shops and wouldn’t apply to grocery stores or convenience stores that offer similar products but take up a smaller percentage of their overall inventory and shelf space.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to decide whether to approve the amendment Wednesday after holding a public hearing prior to the vote. The Planning Commission voted last month to recommend approval of the new zoning rules.
Chesterfield’s pending new limitations for such shops follow the state legislature’s recent approval of stricter regulations for the hemp industry, which some shop owners say will be a blow to their business.
Chesterfield County could institute new zoning rules for stores that sell vaping, hemp and similar products. (Jack Jacobs photo)
The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors is expected to decide Wednesday on whether to adopt new zoning rules for specialty stores that sell vaping, hemp and similar products.
Teed up for a vote is an amendment to the county’s zoning ordinance to regulate the sale of “recreational substances,” which would be a newly defined term in the ordinance that covers tobacco, vaping, hemp and kratom products as well as associated paraphernalia.
Stores that have 25 percent or more of their inventory or 15 percent or more of their display areas taken up by such products would be required to be at least 2,000 linear feet from the property line of pre-K through grade 12 schools, and also the same distance away from the property lines of similar stores, according to the draft amendment language.
Those stores selling such products would also only be allowed to operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Sunday.
Existing retailers would not have to relocate or change their operating hours if they’re in violation of those proposed limitations, Chesterfield Planning Director Andy Gillies said Monday.
Future stores could only operate in limited commercial zoning districts (C-3, C-4 and C-5) in the county and with special permission from the Board of Supervisors by requesting and receiving approval for a conditional-use permit. Retailers with on-site consumption lounges would be limited to C-5 districts.
The county’s zoning ordinance governs what businesses can operate where and currently does not specifically address stores that sell things like CBD, tobacco and kratom. County officials feel they pose a public health concern, particularly for kids, and that it was necessary to create definitive policies for the stores.
“We were concerned about some of the reports that we were seeing about the propensity of younger adults to use these recreational substances,” Gillies said. “This is a business market that our original zoning ordinance didn’t even dream of, so where we fit this in our existing zoning ordinance has been a black hole for a while. There are a number of these (businesses) existing in Chesterfield and the number is growing.”
Chesterfield staff determined there were at least 235 stores that sold tobacco products and nicotine vaping products in the county as of September.
The proposed regulations are geared toward specialty shops and wouldn’t apply to grocery stores or convenience stores that offer similar products but take up a smaller percentage of their overall inventory and shelf space.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to decide whether to approve the amendment Wednesday after holding a public hearing prior to the vote. The Planning Commission voted last month to recommend approval of the new zoning rules.
Chesterfield’s pending new limitations for such shops follow the state legislature’s recent approval of stricter regulations for the hemp industry, which some shop owners say will be a blow to their business.
Let’s see how Chesterfield’s finest manages to screw this up as well.
Agreed. These regulations seem overly burdensome for an industry that the general assembly has failed.