MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – CBD and vape shops in Myrtle Beach could face more restrictions after the city’s planning commission presented its zoning recommendations for these businesses on Tuesday.
In January, the planning commission started studying CBD and vape shops to determine what zoning restrictions would be appropriate for these businesses. They had until 2020 to send its recommendations to city council, however, on Tuesday, the planning commission had already finalized its recommendations.
According to Kenneth May, zoning administrator for the city of Myrtle Beach, there is already an existing ordinance that says CBD and vape shops cannot be within 1500 feet of each other. The proposal would change that if it passes.
“It’s just an amendment proposal. The biggest difference is that the existing ordinance requires a 1500 foot separation between similar like uses and protected uses, whilst prosed about to go before council is the request for a 500-foot separation between similar uses and like uses,” May said.
That means CBD and vape shops would not be allowed to operate within 500 feet of places like Churches, schools and parks, or within 500 feet of each other.
If the recommendation passes, around six vape shops would be required to close down or adjust their inventory so the CBD and vape merchandise take up less than 10 percent of space in the store.
Businesses that don’t meet the requirements have three years to make the necessary changes.
“You’re allowed CBDs and vapes as an incidental ancillary use, but your amount of square footage is limited in regards to that, so if you have a 2500 square foot building, you may be allowed no more than 200 square feet to be set aside for that,” May said.
May says there is one component to the recommendation that could impact every CBD and vape shop in the city.
“We’re having signage requirements in regards to minors installed, so every business may be affected depending on how they currently operate,” May said.
Planning commission’s recommendations will go before city council for first reading at a future meeting.