County councilmembers will vote Tuesday on a bill regarding operating hours for hookah lounges as well as a zoning measure to allow homes near houses of worship.
One bill would set restrictions on operating hours for hookah lounges, tobacco shops, and vape shops to align their operating hours with hours of bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, Council President Andrew Friedson summarized during a media briefing Monday.
“Hookah lounges, essentially, and bars and restaurants that serve alcohol would be put on even footing,” Friedson said.
Under the bill, patrons would be allowed to smoke, vape, or use hookah pipes from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday. Council Vice President Kate Stewart, and Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Evan Glass are lead sponsors. Friedson, Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke, Sidney Katz, Natali Fani-González, and Marilyn Balcombe are co-sponsors.
The council is expected to vote on another piece of legislation — a zoning text amendment — which would remove restrictions to let houses of worship and private educational institutions have affordable homes on their property. The amendment would allow such institutions to build townhouses and apartments in residential detached zones. Right now, multi-unit living is not allowed in residential detached zones, and townhouses are only allowed under certain circumstances.
“The idea of this effort is to help our nonprofit faith partners — our mission-based organizations — who have land, but need help to turn that land into action, to fulfilling their mission and to supporting our public goals,” Friedson said Monday. Friedson and Stewart are lead sponsors, and all councilmembers are co-sponsors.
