ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 Commissioners are expected to explore a plan to regulate where smoke shops are able to open in Orange County.<\/p>\n
District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson has requested a discussion on zoning tobacco shops at Tuesday\u2019s board meeting.<\/p>\n
Currently, any establishment described as a tobacco shop is able to operate in all Orange County commercial districts.<\/p>\n
The broad allowance has led to the placement of smoke shops close to public schools, including a location near Olympia High School and Chain of Lakes Middle School.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want (students) to be able to ride their bikes from their communities to their school, but we don\u2019t want something along the way that may be a hazard to their health,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
Commissioners will hear a proposal for the county to evaluate a modification to the county\u2019s zoning guide to include tobacco and vape shops.<\/p>\n
The discussion would happen after Wilson said people in her district have raised concerns about compatibility and the appropriateness of smoke shops to youth-centered environments.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just about tobacco shops,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cIt\u2019s actually about where they\u2019re located and potentially the vulnerable young people in our community being close to those.\u201d<\/p>\n
A possible amendment could be similar to a measure passed by Alachua County in 2019, which prohibited the opening of smoke shops within 1,000 feet of a public school.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we think about our vulnerable populations and our children, we just have an obligation to specifically make their areas as safe as we can,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
The request from Wilson is for an initial discussion and for staff to expand research to explore an amendment.<\/p>\n
The discussion will happen during Tuesday\u2019s Board of County Commissioners meeting at 9 a.m.<\/p>\n
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