New Hyde Park delays hearing on hookah bar regulations

New Hyde Park Village Hall is seen on April 16, 2010. Credit: Newsday / Karen Wiles Stabile
New Hyde Park has delayed a public hearing on regulating vape stores and hookah bars.
The hearing was originally scheduled for last night, but the minimum requirement for trustee attendance would not have been met. The scheduled board meeting also was postponed.
Village officials are considering categorizing vape or electronic cigarette stores and hookah bars as “adult-use establishments,” which would limit where the businesses could operate and restrict their accessibility to minors.
Mayor Robert Lofaro has previously said the village board was planning on updating its code to “keep current.”
Under the proposed change, vape and hookah stores would join the same category as adult bookstores, entertainment cabarets, novelty stores, motels, body piercing salons, massage parlors and other adult operations.
According to village code, adult uses have “serious objectionable characteristics” which could contribute to neighborhood blight.
The public hearing and board meeting are to be held April 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall.
The Lindenhurst Village board last month approved a stop on any e-cigarette stores within areas zoned for businesses.