\t\t\t\tMissouri City could soon limit the number of smoke shops in city limits.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s happening?<\/p>\n
At an Oct. 6 meeting, Missouri City City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to prohibit future smoke shops from opening in city limits. A smoke shop is defined as a business with more than 25% of its retail sales from smoking-related products.<\/p>\n
Existing shops will still be allowed to operate in city limits but may lose status if they are abandoned, destroyed or severely damaged, according to agenda documents.<\/p>\n
The prohibition on new smoke shops is part of the city\u2019s 10-year initiative to make Missouri City \u201cmore attractive,\u201d Dwayne Bolden, Missouri City Planning and Zoning Position 6 commissioner, said at a Sept. 10 meeting.<\/p>\n
How we got here<\/p>\n
An initial moratorium was first discussed in July<\/a> and put in place at an Aug. 11 special meeting, after former District C council member Anthony Maroulis asked staff<\/a> to review limiting smoke and vape shops in commercially-zoned districts within city limits.<\/p>\n Currently, there are 20 smoke shops in Missouri City, compared to nine in Sugar Land and 16 in Rosenberg, per agenda documents.<\/p>\n “><\/p>\n \u201cWe do not want to be a location known for [smoke shops],\u201d council member Lynn Clouser said at an Aug. 4 meeting. \u201cWe want to be a destination.\u201d<\/p>\n What else?<\/p>\n