Council unanimously denied the permit during its Aug. 11 meeting. The restaurant, located at 2100 Alamo Road, opened in April.
The details
The permit would have limited hookah smoking to the patio and disallowed smoking within 10 feet of doors and windows.
Smoking outdoors is allowed by right, however a special permit was needed because the restaurant would have also sold tobacco products, making it a “smoking establishment" by city’s zoning code, according to city documents.
In 2011, an amendment to the zoning code required special permits for businesses that sell tobacco for on-site use, City Planner Derica Peters said. The city currently has seven businesses that are not currently required to have special permits because they were operating before the zoning change occurred.
What they’re saying
Council cited health initiatives and the number of smoking establishments, especially in the area where the restaurant is located, as the reason for denial.
“The goal in passing [the zoning amendment] was to reduce the number of smoking establishments we had,” council member Jennifer Justice said. “I’m grateful for the investment in the community and I hope the restaurant is super successful... but I’m not in favor of a special use permit for this purpose.”
