Woodstock could tighten “smoke shop” regs

The city of Woodstock is looking at potentially tightening regulation on tobacco shops which have been a bone of contention for law enforcement and other government officials in the past.

Currently, such shops in Woodstock are not established as a stand-alone zoning use, but are lumped under the general retail category. Mayor Donnie Henriques said during a recent city council presentation he thinks the real issue is whether smoking is allowed on-premises, which has led to neighbor complaints.

Council members directed Community Development Director Jessica Guinn to look at how other jurisdictions regulate different types of shops, with a view to possibly establishing a separate zoning category and requiring conditional use permit so each case is examined individually.