Plan Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2022-12-01

STAFF REPORT 2021-30P: Zoning Chapter Amendment
Community Development Department Council Chambers, 7:30 PM, December 1, 2022

To: Paul Luke, Chairman, Skokie Plan Commission
From: Johanna Nyden, AICP, Community Development Director

Case: 2021-30P: Zoning Chapter Amendment

 Restrict Vape Shop and Massage Parlors



 General Information
 Petitioner Village of Skokie
 Purpose The Village of Skokie is requesting a Chapter Amendment to the
 Zoning Ordinance to restrict Vape Shops and Massage Parlors


STAFF REVIEW

Staff is proposing to restrict Vape Shops (and other tobacco sales) and Massage Parlors by
disallowing standalone businesses and requiring them to be part of a primary use. Vape shops
and massage parlors have proliferated in commercial areas over the last few years. The Village
regularly receives complaints about their presence in the community, and they regularly create
enforcement challenges. Staff is also proposing to better align the business licensing chapter of
the Skokie Village Code with zoning requirements.
Staff proposes to change the land use designation from “tobacco or tobacconist establishments”
to “cigarette and tobacco sales” and redefine the use by limiting sales to grocery, pharmacy, or
convenience store and limited them to no greater than 20% or 100 linear feet of shelf space or
display area, whichever is less.
For massage parlors, staff proposes to change the land use designation to “massage services”
and redefine the use by limiting services to licensed physicians, chiropractors, and physical
therapists and health/fitness centers.
As noted in their respective definitions, the changes will prohibit standalone establishments as a
primary use. The uses will be deleted from the Appendix A land use table.
Existing vape shops, tobacco stores, and massage parlors can continue to operate and will be
deemed legal non-confirming uses. New establishments or an expansion of the use will not be
permitted. In accordance with licensing requirements, licenses are not transferable to a new
owner or operator. If an establishment closes, they will need to adhere to all Village code
requirements and would no longer be permitted.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Chapter 26 Businesses of the Skokie Village Code be amended with the
text in BOLD as follows:
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Article XVIII. – Massage Services
 Sec. 26-851. - Definitions
 Massage Services Establishment – means any business establishment or location in the
 Village having a source of income or compensation derived from the practice of
 massage or massage therapy as defined in this section, or which has a place of
 business where any person, firm, association, corporation or other entity engages in or
 carries on any of the activities described in the definition of massage or massage
 therapy limited to a physician, podiatrist, chiropractor, or physical therapist
 licensed in the State of Illinois or a Health and Fitness center as defined
 within the Zoning Ordinance. Massage service establishments are not
 permitted as a primary use.
Staff recommends that Chapter 118 Zoning of the Skokie Village Code be amended with the
text in BOLD as follows:
Article II. – Definitions
 Sec. 118-32. – General Definitions
 Cigarette and Tobacco Sales – means the sale of cigarette and tobacco
 products within a grocery, pharmacy, liquor, or convenience store, limited to
 no greater than 20% or 100 linear feet of shelf space or display area,
 whichever is less, within the store, and in adherence to Chapter 26, Article VI
 of the Skokie Village Code. Cigarette and tobacco sales establishments are
 not permitted as a primary use.
 Massage Services Establishment – means any business establishment or
 location in the Village having a source of income or compensation derived
 from the practice of massage or massage therapy as defined in this section,
 or which has a place of business where any person, firm, association,
 corporation or other entity engages in or carries on any of the activities
 described in the definition of massage or massage therapy limited to a
 physician, podiatrist, chiropractor, or physical therapist licensed in the State
 of Illinois or a Health and Fitness center as defined within this article and in
 adherence to Chapter 26, Article XVIII of the Skokie Village Code. Massage
 service establishments are not permitted as a primary use.
Appendix A. – Use Table

 Use Residential Mixed-Use Business Industrial

 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 NX TX CX Retail B1 B2 B3 B4 B6 H1 M1 M2 M3 OR

 Tobacco or P P P P P P P P
 tobacconist
 establishment

 Massage P P P P P P
 Therapy


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