Vape shops should be unwelcome Downtown and near schools, commission recommends

Public Source- Pittsburgh’s City Planning Commission voted to recommend a bill to the City Council that would place restrictions on where vape stores can set up shop, but also called for major amendments.

Some people expressed their eagerness for the bill to pass because of Downtown shops in particular, even though the bill emphasizes the impact that vape shops have on school-aged children citywide. The legislation would not permit new vape shops in the Golden Triangle.

“Every time I see a bus unload, I see children going to the public schools around the corner, and they flow into these stores like they’re candy shops,” said Harris Jones, the co-owner of 824 Liberty Ave., which is across the street from a vape shop. “It makes you cry as a parent and as a Downtown resident.”

Hersh Merenstein, the senior director of external affairs for the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania, said his organization is committed to Downtown in part because of the teenagers that the club serves there.

“This ordinance will prioritize more productive uses of retail spaces that will accelerate a more vibrant community and limit harmful distractions from many teens that attend school or transfer through Downtown everyday,” Merenstein said.

The commission approved an additional motion that would require the zoning administrator and the Department of City Planning’s staff to report back to the body within a year on any updates they have regarding how these shops are categorized, a detail that has seen several changes since Councilor Bobby Wilson originally proposed the bill last September.

While the bill cleared one hurdle by securing the commission’s positive recommendation Tuesday, a long legislative process likely remains: City Council has up to 120 days to act on the commission’s recommendation. After that, the council is required to notify the public 30 days in advance of a hearing.

More from Public Source here.