Marijuana, Vape Shops Face Moratorium in Stow

RITA proposal dead; Finance Director to propose increased staffing

Following a discussion about marijuana and vape shops at its July 18 meeting, City Council will consider two new pieces of legislation, one of which will extend the current moratorium on medical marijuana sales to any form of marijuana and another to temporarily prevent additional vape shops from opening in Stow.

During Council’s last meeting, several council members expressed concern about the access to and proliferation of vaping among underage students.

City Council President Cyle Feldman asked Stow Police Chief Jeff Film about the number of complaints the city has received about the five current vape shops in the city.

Film said that over the past two years, there have been 11 police reports. A few were initially placed by parents about underage purchases of vaping products while the majority were filed by store owners regarding theft and disorderly conduct. He said the police department responded to the complaints about underage sales by sending in an undercover, underage, officer who was able to buy the products and those stores were held accountable.

“In two years, 11 reports. That’s minimal,” Film said. “Vape shops are really not an issue for us (from a law enforcement perspective) at this point.”

Feldman, who also serves as Stow-Munroe Falls High School’s athletic director, said the high school has vape detectors in the bathrooms that are triggered constantly.

Ward 2 Councilwoman Kelly Coffey expressed concern that students are getting access to vaping products even though they are not legally allowed to buy from vape shops.

Planning Director Zach Cowan said he had already asked the consultant who is working on the city’s planning & zoning code update to look into the issue and how other communities are regulating vape shops and marijuana sales in a way that would hold up in court, but the new planning & zoning code won’t be ready until Oct. 2025.

Feldman and Council At-Large Jeremy McIntire sponsored the legislation to change its ban on medical marijuana to an indefinite moratorium on the use of any building for the cultivation, processing, distribution or sale of any form of marijuana.

Feldman, McIntire and Ward 1 Councilman Matt Riehl sponsored legislation for a 12-month moratorium on permitting any additional vape shops from opening in Stow.

Both pieces of legislation will be discussed at the Council of the Whole meeting at 6 pm on Thursday, Aug. 1.

Ohio voters approved Issue 2 to make the sale and use of recreational marijuana legal last November. Stow voters approved that measure with a 57% vote. Every precinct in Stow approved the measure except two: Precinct 2E, which encompasses the Call Farm neighborhood, where 47.4% of voters approved the legalization of marijuana, and Precinct 1F, where 49.5% of voters approved the measure, with a difference between Yesses and Nos in Precinct 1F of 7 total votes. Precinct 1F is comprised of Pambi Farms, Surrey Hill and Stillwood.

See council’s initial discussion of these two issues at its July 18 meeting.

Finance Dept., City Council withdraw RITA proposal

Just hours prior to the last council meeting, the finance department issued a press release withdrawing its proposal to turn over the city’s income tax collection to the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA).

During the council meeting, Finance Director Kelly Toppin said he’d received significant feedback from residents, both by phone and email.

“We will be looking to get our department right-sized so we can continue to provide the customer service that several of you expressed your feelings on. I was glad to see that,” he said. “I appreciate the emails I received from the residents, the phone calls I received from the residents. They were all good conversations and we heard you. We heard that you don’t want RITA in Stow and we have withdrawn our proposal to do that.”

Council voted unanimously to withdraw the legislation and Feldman commended Toppin on being responsive to resident input.

Social Gathering Venues measure rejected

After several meetings and a public hearing on July 18 to discuss whether the city should legislate the use of private homes for parties, City Council rejected legislation to do just that.

McIntire expressed concern that the law would restrict residents from using their property for weddings and other large gatherings.

The legislation was initially written to change the zoning code to create a new category of conditional uses for homes or property in residential areas to be used as commercial ventures.

Council rejected the legislation 6-1, with Feldman being the sole vote in favor of the measure.

New Independent Living Community Approved

City Council gave site plan approval to Omni Stow Villas to add 33 units off Hudson Dr. in the area adjacent to the company’s Vitalia Senior Residences properties.

The facility, originally approved in Oct. 2019, was shelved as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and then delayed again in 2023 because of construction costs, said Stow Planning Director Zach Cowan.

The new plan approved unanimously by Council was changed to remove a clubhouse and a road, add a walking path and change the type of buildings. The development will include one six-unit building and nine three-unit buildings, each of which will be 2 bedroom/2 bath units of 1,200-1,400-sq.ft.

Cowan said the development is targeted to residents ages 55 and older who would have access to all the dining and recreation amenities at the main Vitalia Senior Living facility.

Council approves acquisition of property for Rt. 91 improvements

City council unanimously approved legislation that would allow the city to appropriate land from residents and businesses along Rt. 91 needed for the road’s reconstruction project.

The reconstruction project, which is set to start in 2025, will include the addition of sidewalks on both sides of the road from the Munroe Falls to Hudson borders, access to the bike path at the Northeast corner of Rt. 91 and Fishcreek Rd., and updated light signals.

Odds ‘n Ends

Also at the July 18 council meeting…

Mayor John Pribonic recognized new businesses that have recently opened in Stow, including:
- The Center, formerly the SYB Hall on Hudson Dr.
- Pizza Cat at 1628 Norton Rd.
- Rock the Spectrum at 3087 Graham Rd.
- The Barber’s Den at 4161 Steels Pointe Suite 200
The Stow police and fire departments participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run, raising more than $100,000 for Special Olympics, which will go to programs for local kids.
Council approved a liquor license for El Campesino for its new location on Kent Road (the former On Tap). Planning Director Cowan said the business plans to finalize its building plans within the next several weeks.
Finance Director Toppin recognized the retirement of John Earle from the finance department, who had worked at the city for 41 years.
Council approved the appointment of Barb Anderson to Supervisor of Service Building & Engineering.
Council approved the mayor’s appointment of Jessie Grenfell to the Commission on Inclusion.

Mark your calendars!

The next Stow Sunshine Project club meeting will be August 19 at 7 pm in the Safety Building community room. Police Chief Jeff Film will be the featured speaker and will discuss a number of topics, including: