An application for a smoke and vape shop at the Union Pointe Center shopping strip has Union officials working quickly to come to a solution to satisfy parents.
“We’ve gotten quite a number of complaints about this topic,” said Mayor Larry Solomon. “[The] potential for vape stores to be located near Ryle High School.”
The school sits on a hill just opposite the strip, with its cafeteria hosting a large set of panoramic windows overlooking the shopping center and what could be a smoke shop as well.
A vacancy recently opened at Union Point Centre shopping strip, and an application of tenancy for a smoke shop was submitted for the space.
What followed quickly after was the draft for an ordinance that would ban any and all smoke shops from operating within a 1000-foot radius of any school, Kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as public parks and walking paths.
“I see what vaping does to those kids. There’s nothing positive that can come from having a vape shop directly across from Ryle,” said commissioner John Mefford.
Mefford has been a chemistry teacher at Ryle since 2005.
In 2019, the federal government passed a law raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vapes, to 21. Kentucky, on top of the federal age requirement, has its own law prohibiting the use of tobacco by anyone under the age of 21.
“Whether or not it’s a shop here or somewhere—they’ll find it,” said commissioner Jeremy Ramage. “That’s a challenge for the school and community and falls back on parents.”
The city commission did not come to a definitive conclusion on the precise language to be used in the official ordinance. A special meeting is to be called at 6 p.m. on May 21 at the Union City Building, where the first reading of the ordinance will occur.