Commissioners To Vote On Changes Impacting Smoking Lounges

An ordinance adjusting Bel Air town regulations on smoking lounges is up for a public hearing Monday night.

After the town received a request from a business owner hoping to open a hookah lounge in Bel Air, proposed changes to the town's development regulations were brought to the board of commissioners.

At the Sept. 17 meeting Town Planner Kevin Small explained hookah lounges are not specifically addressed in town zoning laws. The proposed zoning changes would allow smoking lounges in the B3 zone only and ensure the are at least 1,000 feet from a school and 100 feet from a residence, Small said.

Smoking lounges would be accepted as an exceptional use and be subject to board of appeals approval. See the attached full agenda.

In addition to these changes, another proposed change to development regulations includes a change in measuring where a pet can be kept in town. The change would allow pet penning to be measured by the nearest adjacent building. Small explained this measurement would be more practical.

There is also an amendment that would reduce the width of a single family home front yard setback from the 50 to 20 feet.

Following the public hearing, a vote is expected, according to the agenda.

Patch will provide live updates from Monday's town meeting here (note the link will not work until the meeting begins).