Golden Valley Explores Ways to Further Restrict Tobacco Sales

Youth tobacco consumption continues to rise in Minnesota due to e-cigarettes. As a result, Golden Valley is looking at ways to further restrict tobacco sales.

Monday night, the Golden Valley Planning Commission looked at ways to restrict the sale of tobacco products based on a store’s proximity to “youth-oriented facilities.”

City staff members had recommended a scenario that would create a 750-foot buffer around any school, playground and athletic field. It would essentially prevent a tobacco retailer from locating within that buffer zone.

After a lengthy discussion, the planning commission couldn’t come to a consensus on the zoning restrictions and decided to table the issue.

“I just think we should take a pause, get some direction on how the city feels about a myriad of health issues, and then go down that path and see where that takes us,” said Planning Commissioner Andrew Johnson.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, one in five high school students use e-cigarettes. That’s a nearly 50 percent increase since 2014.

Golden Valley