Redondo Beach looks to reduce smoke shops from 16 to five
by Garth Meyer The Redondo Beach City Council zeroed in on a smoke shop ordinance Aug. 19, while a moratorium to keep the present total at 16 remains in effect until next June. Community development director Marc Wiener said the city has added seven smoke shops since 2019, and he noted a record of compliance issues, including illegal sales of flavored tobacco and cannabis. Wiener explained that the draft of the smoke shop ordinance allows a maximum of five shops citywide, though 10 would be authorized at first. The number would be reduced by attrition. Each of the final five shops would need to receive a conditional-use permit from the city within five years. Restrictions would include buffer zones around Redondo Beach schools, youth centers and parks; and a design review. The permits would need to be renewed every three years. Before the city council’s moratorium – passed May 6 and extended in June – a smoke shop could be approved to open “by right.” No permit was required. The draft ordinance includes buffer zones within 600 feet of a school, a daycare or a youth center; and shops need to be at least 1,000 feet from each other. Also, on July 17, the planning commission limited…
Read this story on easyreadernews.com