TITLE
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS TO ESTABLISH ZONING REGULATIONS FOR RETAILERS OF TOBACCO AND/OR VAPOR PRODUCTS, SMOKE SHOPS AND SMOKING PLACES.
BODY
WHEREAS: Retailers of tobacco and/or Vapor Products, Smoke Shops, and Smoking Places; and
WHEREAS: is not part of the current New Haven zoning ordinance; and
WHEREAS: there has been a growing number of smoke shops and smoking places throughout our city; and
WHEREAS: in recent years, many businesses that sell tobacco and tobacco paraphernalia have opened around the city, frequently close to other similar establishments or sensitive locations such as schools, parks, and houses of worship; and
WHEREAS: the many new establishments of this kind that have opened throughout our city present challenges to public health and safety because these businesses can encourage the use of products that may be harmful and addictive, especially for youth in our community; and
WHEREAS: their unregulated operations are a concern to New Haven citizens; and
WHEREAS: to limit the harms caused by tobacco products, there is a need to establish regulations regarding where new businesses selling tobacco and tobacco paraphernalia may open in our city, in line with similar regulations that exist for the sale of other potentially harmful and addictive products such as alcohol and cannabis; and
WHEREAS: this ordinance amendment establishes new use definitions under the zoning code for "Smoke Shop" and "Smoking Place;" and
WHEREAS: disallow the opening of a new Smoke Shop within 1,000 feet of the property line of any school, house of worship, or public park and would disallow the opening of a new Smoke Shop within 3,000 feet of an existing Smoke Shop; and
WHEREAS: the ordinance amendment would regulate and prevent the opening of new Smoke Shops near sensitive locations where youth are likely to spend time; and
WHEREAS: it would prevent the clustering of Smoke Shops in certain parts of the city, limiting the public health a...
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