ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County commissioners are considering a proposal to block smoke and vape shops from opening their doors near public schools in the future. 

District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson said the commission has been contacted by many parents with concerns about the proximity of vape shops to schools.

County commissioners will explore a buffer zone concept at a work session on April 7 and will seek guidance from county planning officials.

What You Need To Know

Orange County commissioners will consider establishing buffer zones for smoke and vape shops near schools across Orange County

The concept will be explored at a work session on April 7

Many parents of Orange County Public Schools students had told commissioners that they were concerned about the issue, District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson says 

The Skywalker Smoke and Vape Shop is a few hundred feet from Olympia High School’s baseball and softball fields. 

The shop doesn’t violate any current zoning rules. 

In an email statement, owner Naveed Dossani said the shop has a strict policy to refuse sales to anyone younger than 21 years old, and it requires identification with proof of age for all purchases.

Dossani said he respects the county’s discussion on future zoning policies, adding that his business was established in accordance with current laws. He said the operators of his smoke shop remain committed to selling their products responsibly.

But Wilson said county commissioners’ goal is to create buffer zones to push future vape shops farther away from schools. 

Wilson said the zones should be in place county-wide so vape shops don’t all open in the same area.

An online map search conducted by Spectrum News 13 found four other smoke shops within 5 miles of Olympia High School.

Wilson pointed out that some students walk past the vape stores, while others wait for rides or study with friends at nearby restaurants.

“If their business is to sell something we understand to be toxic and especially dangerous and addictive to our young people, then we need to figure out a better way to really provide a safe circle around our schools,” Wilson said.

Commissioners will consider zoning rules already on the books that ban alcohol sales near schools, she said.

“I think using something that’s already been a part of zoning code is probably the easiest way to apply it,” Wilson said.

Orange County’s commercial zoning rules currently do not flag when a vape shop might open near a school, Wilson said.

Kari Adams, who has a daughter and a son in Orange County Public Schools, said she thinks the SkyWalker Smoke and Vape Shop is too close to Olympia High School.

“We’re already up against social media, which is a hurdle in itself, but then when you have things like this, that just makes our job more challenging,” Adams said.

She said she hopes county leaders will change zoning rules to protect students’ health.

“I think that’s just common sense,” Adams said. “It’s not saying they can’t be in existence, but just not near schools.”

Orange County Public Schools cannot provide information about the number of students who are vaping for health privacy reasons, a spokesperson said. However, vaping is prohibited on all campuses.

Every high school student in Florida has to pass the HOPE course before graduating. The course, officially known as Health Opportunities through Education, teaches students about the risks of smoking and vaping, among other health issues.