On the agenda: Bristolct Zoning Commission - Special Meeting - Virtual - Online via Zoom — Data Center (Aug 20)

City of Bristol
Zoning Commission
SPECIAL MEETING — THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026
VIRTUAL — ONLINE VIA ZOOM
5:00 P.M.

1.

INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS THIS MEETING:
Zoom Meeting link:
https://bristolctgov.zoom.us/j/83668399292?pwd=w3daQmu7aTvJg8ay9lXYhqRujfRO0k.1
Meeting ID:
836 6839 9292
Meeting Passcode:
123456
Join by phone
1-929-205-6099
AGENDA
Call to Order

2.

Public Participation

3.

New Business
a.

Commission Discussion on Vape/Smoke Shops

b.

Commission Discussion on Data Centers

4.

Staff Reports

5.

Adjournment

REMINDER: The next Regular Meeting of the Zoning Commission is Monday,September 21, 2026

Page 1

Application
AZR-26-03
Moratoria
Zoning
Amendments
Initiated By:
Bristol
Zoning
Commission

Page 2

Recommended
Zoning
Amendments

Page 3

City of Bristol Recommended Zoning Amendments
Date: 8/19/25
Recommended Amendment to establish a Moratorium on the Establishment or Expansion of
Smoke and Vape Shops
Purpose: The purpose of this amendment is to prohibit the establishment or expansion of new smoke or
vape shops while the Zoning Commission and other boards and commissions consider permanent
amendments to the zoning regulations and other City ordinances and policies to adequately regulate this
use for the protection of public health and safety.
Description: This recommended amendment does the following:
• Establishes a new Section 17.3 Moratoria in the Zoning Regulations to accommodate this
recommended moratorium and future moratoria.
• Establishes an 18-month moratorium on the establishment of a new smoke or vape shop or the
expansion of any existing shop.
• Provides a definition of smoke or vape shops.
Geographic Extents: Citywide, all zoning districts.
Context:
• Since 2018, the number of vape shops in the country has increased by an average of almost 20%
each year.
• In 2024, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school
students in the United States with 7.8% of high school students using them.
• The CDC recommends that local governments “Reduce the number of retailers that are allowed to
sell tobacco products” as one means of addressing this issue.
• According to the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, there are 44 licensed Cigarette
Dealers in Bristol.
• According to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, there are 32 active and 51
inactive registered Dealers of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems or Vapor Products in Bristol.
Consistency with the Plan of Conservation and Development: The 2015 Bristol Plan of Conservation
and Development does not directly address the issue of smoke or vape shops however the plan does
recommend that the City:
“Maintain and improve the economic base of Bristol in order to enhance its reputation as a
desirable place in which to live, work, shop and raise a family.”
Ensuring that its retail spaces provide a variety of goods and services to residents and that those goods
and services contribute to the health and wellbeing of the community is consistent with this
recommendation.

Page 4

Recommended Zoning Amendments
1. Add new Section 17.3 Moratoria as follows:

Page 2

Page 5

City
Council
Referral

Page 6

City of Bristol
Office of Town and City Clerk
1 1 1 North Main Street
Bristol, Connecticut 06 01 0
(860) 584-6200

July 1 5 , 2026

Zoning Commission
c/o Land Use Office
City Hall
1 1 1 North Main Street

Bristol, Connecticut 0 6 0 1 0

Dear Members:

At a meeting of the City Council on July 14, 2026 it was voted to refer two matters to the
Zoning Commission for action:

1.

Request for consideration of a moratorium on new Vape/Smoke shops within
Bristol for a 12-month period while the City Council, and its Ordinance
Committee and legal staff, review state laws and regulations that may impact and
enhance the City's ability to regulate the proliferation ofVape Shops to ensure
they are not operating to the detriment of the community's public health;

2.

Referral concerning the elimination of the 5,001-250,000 gross square footage for
data centers. The City Council would also like the Zoning Commission to have all
data center applications be the subject of a special permit, and to be appropriately
distanced from other data centers.

Very truly yours,

ca£u
Emiea caiya.

ccr

',

Town and City Clerk

EC/mb

cc: City Council Members
Wyland Dale Clift,

Corporation Counsel

Justin Malley, ECD Director

Page 7

EDC
Letter

Page 8

Page 9

City
Council
Referral
Data
Centers

Page
Page10
2

City of Bristol
Office of Town and City Clerk
1 1 1 North Main Street
Bristol, Connecticut 06 01 0
(860) 584-6200

July 1 5 , 2026

Zoning Commission
c/o Land Use Office
City Hall
1 1 1 North Main Street

Bristol, Connecticut 0 6 0 1 0

Dear Members:

At a meeting of the City Council on July 14, 2026 it was voted to refer two matters to the
Zoning Commission for action:

1.

Request for consideration of a moratorium on new Vape/Smoke shops within
Bristol for a 12-month period while the City Council, and its Ordinance
Committee and legal staff, review state laws and regulations that may impact and
enhance the City's ability to regulate the proliferation ofVape Shops to ensure
they are not operating to the detriment of the community's public health;

2.

Referral concerning the elimination of the 5,001-250,000 gross square footage for
data centers. The City Council would also like the Zoning Commission to have all
data center applications be the subject of a special permit, and to be appropriately
distanced from other data centers.

Very truly yours,

ca£u
Emiea caiya.

ccr

',

Town and City Clerk

EC/mb

cc: City Council Members
Wyland Dale Clift,

Corporation Counsel

Justin Malley, ECD Director

Page 11