Lindenhurst Village bans new vaping shops in business zones

The Lindenhurst Village board Tuesday night approved a stop on any electronic cigarette stores within areas zoned for businesses.

The moratorium on vape, or e-cigarette stores, also places a halt on hookah bars and marijuana “derivative” dispensaries. The village has four vape stores but no hookah bars.

Marijuana derivatives include cannabidiol, or CBD oil, which comes from the cannabis plant but does not cause a high. Some vape stores sell the oil, which is legal and said to have medicinal properties.

The amendment to the village’s zoning law was unanimously approved by the five-member board after a public hearing that drew about two dozen residents. Board members said that since vape businesses are relatively new on Long Island — booming from about 10 stores to nearly four dozen in the past two years — they want to take a closer look at them.

Although several Long Island municipalities in recent years have sought to limit e-cigarette use in public areas, Lindenhurst appears to be the first to put a limit on the stores that sell them.

“We’re not saying that there are problems but we just don’t know enough about them right now,” Mayor Tom Brennan said. “We just want to put a moratorium on them so we can do a little homework.” Existing stores will not be affected by the law.

Vaping involves the use of battery-powered devices, often referred to as vaporizers, or “mods,” that heat a liquid. Inhaling and exhaling from the device creates a vapor. The liquid, often called “juice,” typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin and food flavoring, although some do not contain any nicotine.

Proponents of vaping said it is often a successful last resort for longtime cigarette smokers who have not been able to kick the habit. Others express concern for the unknown health risks and cite nicotine as addictive and dangerous for young people. As with tobacco products and disposable e-cigarettes that are sold in convenience stores, buyers in Suffolk County must be 21 or older to purchase vaping items.

Only a handful of residents spoke at the hearing, including Legis. Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst), who said he was in favor of the law because he supports downtown revitalization.

Resident John Lappas said vape shops do not cause any problems for the village, noting that “bars and restaurants sell drinks and then people go out and drunk drive.”

“It has a lot of pluses, very few minuses,” he said of vaping. “I’ve tried it. It’s not killing me, it’s actually helping me.”

Resident Debbie White questioned whether the village should be limiting any one type of business, especially given the number of vacant storefronts downtown.

“A free market should decide whether businesses open or close,” she told the board.

By Denise M. Bonilla

denise.bonilla@newsday.comdenisebonilla

Denise Bonilla has worked at Newsday since 2003 and covers the Town of Babylon, including the villages of Lindenhurst and Amityville.