US: Crystal Lake To Consider Codifying Vapor Lounges for E-Cigarette Stores

Source from:  Northwest Herald 01/05/2015

Electronic cigarettes can be used in bars, restaurants and in the stores that sell them.

The Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission will review a proposed change to the city's unified development ordinance at its meeting next week that clarifies e-cigarette users can vape and sample products at e-cigarette stores.

"This is just providing clarity," Community Development Director Michelle Rentzsch said. "We really had no definition before for vapor lounges or vaping, so it was totally silent in the zoning ordinance. This clearly states what is the intent of the city. Everyone that's currently doing it, it's fine because it's not even defined or regulated right now."

The proposed amendment came out of a Crystal Lake City Council discussion in mid-November on whether to further regulate e-cigarettes and treat them like combustible cigarettes, banning them in public places such as restaurants and bars.

Several of the e-cigarette users and store owners mentioned at that meeting how important it is for customers to be able to try the product in the store before they purchase.

But the city's current regulations don't allow smoking lounges and don't mention vapor lounges at all.

The proposed amendment would address this gap by allowing vapor lounges - an area with seating and tables where customers can vape and sample products - only when attached to an e-cigarette store, which fall under miscellaneous stores and are allowed in two of the city's 14 zoning districts, general commercial and downtown business.

The e-cigarette store would need to make more than 80 percent of its revenue from the sale of e-cigarettes and related products in order to qualify. They would not be allowed in any establishment that sells liquor or food or in a larger store that has an e-cigarette section. Enditem