ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) – In a 4-1 vote, the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors passed a new zoning ordinance, prohibiting new businesses that sell tobacco, hemp, or vaping products from opening within 1,000 feet of middle or high schools.
This applies to any retail store, including gas stations, convenience stores, specialty smoke and vape shops, and any other outlet without an Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) license.
Tuesday night’s meeting saw multiple guest speakers who work with Roanoke County Public Schools. They encouraged the board to make the move to try and get a handle on the vaping problem among young people.
“Our high school principals report that student vaping is one of their biggest challenges currently in our schools,” Roanoke County Public Schools Superintendent Ken Nicely said. “They are concerned that vaping products are readily being sold to our underage youth in many stores in Roanoke County where these products are sold.”
However, not everyone on the board was in favor of the ordinance. Paul Mahoney, the Cave Spring magisterial district member, voted against it.
“I just don’t think this ordinance accomplishes the goals we all want to accomplish, which is to protect our kids and educate them as to the dangers of vaping,” he said. “This ordinance doesn’t do it.”
The new rule only applies to new or future stores, so existing ones don’t have to do anything. Also, elementary schools are not included in the zoning ordinance, so stores that sell tobacco and vape products can open within that 1,000-foot area.
No stores are selling products that sit within 1,000 feet of a Roanoke County middle or high school.