Planning, Zoning & Housing Committee Meeting and Public Hearing

The City of New Britain Planning, Zoning & Housing Committee held a public hearing and regular meeting on October 7, 2026. The principal item was a proposed tobacco-sales permitting ordinance intended to support youth-access prevention and coordinate with zoning limits on smoke shops. A public speaker supported taking action to restrict youth access. Health Department staff described annual licensing and inspections for tobacco retailers, possible referrals to zoning enforcement when establishments meet the smoke-shop threshold, and planned retailer outreach before the stated April 1 effective date. Staff also said enforcement of suspected unlicensed cannabis sales would require coordination with state or local partners; an appeal process would follow the city’s general citation procedure.

The committee approved a strike-all amendment substituting the revised language, then approved the measure for referral to the full Council. No contracts, purchases, vendor selections, or spending allocations were discussed, so no procurement activity was identified. The discussion referenced Connecticut Public Act 26-100, which was described as limiting future permits for vape or smoke shops beginning in January 2027 based on the number of existing dealers per resident population.