Hookah Star & Smoke Shop, located at 1243 Wayne Ave., closed after it received a cease-occupancy order from Dayton’s zoning administrator.
The zoning administrator contends the shop operated as a nightclub, in violation of the district’s zoning regulations.
Nimr Ibrahim, the shop’s manager, has challenged the order to the Board of Zoning Appeals and claims the administrator’s characterization of his business is wrong and unfair.
But at Monday’s land use meeting, neighbors and Dayton police said the hookah bar was consistently a source of problems, attracting noise, loitering, littering, drunkenness, drugs, fights, violence and late-night disruptions and large crowds.
The land use board unanimously agreed with the zoning administrator’s decision that the hookah bar was operating as a night club, said Mike Martin, chairman of the board.
The city’s Board of Zoning Appeals is to hear bar’s appeal on Oct. 27.
UPDATE @ 8:22 p.m.:
The Downtown Priority Land Use Board opened its meeting for public comment on an appeal filed by a hookah shop that closed in August after a shooting occurred outside, then closed the meeting to the public right after the public comment period.
Hookah Star & Smoke Shop, 1243 Wayne Ave., closed because of a cease-occupancy order from Dayton’s zoning administrator, who contends the shop operated as a nightclub in violation of the district’s zoning regulations.
Shop manager Nimr Ibrahim is challenging the order to the Board of Zoning Appeals and claims the administrator’s characterization of his business is wrong and unfair.
At tonight’s meeting, neighbors and Dayton police said the hookah bar was consistently a source of problems, attracting noise, loitering, littering, drunkenness, drugs, fights, violence, late-night disruptions and large crowds.
The land use board received many emails and letters from residents who objected to the shop.
Amy Lee, president of Historic South Park Inc., said the shop has not operated in a safe or responsible manner and its ownership refuses to take responsibility for the problems the business created.
“I don’t see a willingness to do what’s necessary to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Lee said.
The land use board was expected to decide tonight whether to support the zoning administrator’s findings. No decision had been made by late tonight. .
The city’s Board of Zoning Appeals is to hear bar’s appeal on Oct. 27.
FIRST REPORT
The Downtown Priority Land Use Board this evening will hold a hearing for public comment on the Hookah Star & Smoke Shop, which closed after a shooting took place outside.
The meeting at 5:30 p.m. will be at the Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley, 660 S. Main St.
Residents and representatives from the Dayton Police Department are expected to speak about Hookah Star’s appeal case. The shop’s owner is expected to comment as well.
Hookah Star, 1243 Wayne Ave., has challenged a cease-occupancy order the city issued after a man was shot outside the shop on Aug. 9.
The city contends the smoke shop was operating as a nightclub, which is not permitted in that district under Dayton’s zoning laws.
But the shop’s owner and manager said that characterization is off base and they are prepared to make changes to the shop’s hours of operation to address problems that have led to police calls and neighborhood complaints.
The appeal is scheduled to be heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals on Oct. 27.
The priority land use board is expected to vote this evening to make a decision to the appeals board about whether to sustain or reject the finding of the zoning administrator who issued the cease-occupancy order.
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