Politic-ATL: New distance rules for vape shops

After hours of proclamations and public comment, the Atlanta City Council got down to business Monday and took action on the following items.

First up is a new ordinance that spells out how far vape shops can be from elementary and secondary schools.

• The changes now require the shops to be at least 1,000 feet from elementary, middle, junior high or high schools, as well as other vape shops.
• It also applies to day cares, pre-kindergarten centers and other child care facilities.
• Atlanta's new ordinance also spells out the definition of a vape shop.

Fire station upgrade: Fire Station No. 5 will soon undergo some renovations, as council members approved a task order funding the project at a cost not to exceed $1 million.

• The fire station is at 2825 Campbellton Road SW.

New crosswalk request: Council members passed a resolution calling for the city to partner with Emory University to install a pedestrian crosswalk on Linden Avenue at the halfway point between Peachtree and W. Peachtree streets.

• Emory University Hospital and Winship Cancer Institute leaders have indicated they would share the costs in any future crosswalk, according to the resolution.

What's coming up: A new resolution was introduced that would move up the effective date of the revised Tree Protection ordinance from Jan. 1, 2026 to Oct. 1 of this year.

• Also introduced was an ordinance that would create license requirements for short-term rentals in multi-family developments.