By Peter Kuebeck

Special to the Sentinel-Tribune

The Bowling Green Planning Commission on Tuesday continued its discussion around potential changes to the zoning code targeting tobacco and vape shops in the city.

In April, council passed a six-month moratorium on new tobacco and vape shops, resulting from concerns about their proliferation in the city, and about underage vape use. The six-month period is to be used to help the city decide how to handle the issue. There are currently 12 shops in the city whose primary purpose is selling vape and/or tobacco products, and 16 “secondary” shops who sell those items in addition to offering other merchandise or services. Four primary shops have opened in 2025, two of them in April alone.

During the May 7 meeting, Planning Director Heather Sayler delivered a presentation to the commission focusing on measures other Ohio municipalities have taken regarding tobacco and vape shops. The commission subsequently asked Sayler to draft some potential regulations for their consideration.

Sayler has since offered a series of proposed text amendments to the zoning code focusing on primary stores. According to a memo from Sayler to the commission, among the amendments, “tobacco or vape store” would be added as a conditional use in commercial zoning and interstate commerce zoning, and as a permitted use in Innovation and Employment zoning. Further, “tobacco and vape store” would be added “to the Specific Use Regulations to include spacing requirements, prohibit outdoor merchandising, limit hours of operation, limit window signage and lighting, and address the legal nonconforming status of existing stores.”

During Wednesday’s meeting, Sayler noted that these were simply starting points for the commission to react to. The suggestions included disallowing tobacco or vape stores from existing or operating within one mile of one another; not allowing them within 1,000 feet of any school, university, public park, public library, place of religious assembly, child day care center “or other use established specifically for the activities of minors”; prohibit serving in-person customers between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.; and signage, lighting, etc., cannot occupy more than 25% of the surface area of a window or glass door.

During Wednesday’s meeting, discussion was wide-ranging, including questions about drive-thru establishments, lighting and signage, and possibly limiting the number of stores by population, as is done in other cities.

One subject receiving particular attention was the potential distancing regulations provided by Sayler.

Commission Chair Bob McOmber wondered if, as written, those regulations might be too restrictive.

“Do we want to, in essence, not allow any more vape shops in the city?” asked McOmber. “If somebody wants to spend their money and open up a business, they may be successful, they may fail. They’re not really doing anything the state considers illegal. … Do we want to do that just within this community or do we want to allow people to make their own decisions about what businesses they open up or don’t open up? I don’t know if I’m against it, but it bothers me a bit,” he added.

“I pretty much had similar concerns,” said member Tom Stalter. “It does have private property implications that are concerning.”

Member Bob Waddle asked if models of potential distance regulations might be provided so the commission could better visualize them.

The commission plans to continue their discussion during its July meeting.

In other business, the commission unanimously approved the final plan for Toussaint Springs Subdivision Plat 2, located near the corner of Brim Road and Newton Road. According to a memo to the commission from Sayler, Rick Lundstrom Jr., of Triban Investment, LLC/Knez Homes is requesting approval of the final plan, which would subdivide approximately 8.73 acres into 38 parcels.

Currently, the property is zoned Medium Density Residential and the owner intends to construct one-unit dwellings, according to Sayler.

In further business, the commission also elected officers for the year. McOmber was chosen as chair, Waddle was chosen as vice chair, and Julie Broadwell was chosen as representative to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The commission additionally welcomed a new member, Amanda Denbow, who replaces outgoing member Erica Sleek.