02/11/2022
Update: The location we had lined up in Blue Springs has now been rented to someone else and we will be looking for somewhere else to move. Please keep an eye out on our page as we will update here.
Dear CigaWatt Customers, Friends, and Family.
This will be a long post, TL: DR at the end.
Timeline:
January 18th we were given 60 days to relocate the Blue Springs location.
January 25th we went and looked at 2 locations, selecting one.
January 27th we signed the new lease and began preparations to let all of our partons know, making and printing banners and information cards, planning the move, ordering a new sign to let you all know where we would be.
January 31st we were informed that the City of Blue Springs would not allow us to relocate our business to this new location due to ordinances adopted in 2018 and 2019. Those ordinances follow:
Section 405.050 Special Use Standards amendment 32 states:
Tobacconist. Tobacconists shall be subject to the following standards and requirements:
TO***CONIST Definition
A commercial establishment primarily for the sale of to***co-related products. "Tobacco-related products" shall include, but not limited to: ci******es, ci**rs, pipe to***co, loose to***co, cigarette papers, and pipes. This definition shall also include electronic and v***r ci******es.
[Ord. No. 4723, 3-19-2018; Ord. No. 4864, 10-21-2019]
a. As a conditional use, a to***conist may not locate or expand any existing operation within five hundred (500) feet of any other to***conist or any residential use or district, church, school or public park. The distance between these uses shall be measured in a straight line from the boundary of any property containing the to***conist and the boundary of any property zoned residential or in use for a residential purpose, church, school, or public park.
b. No permit or license may be issued for a to***conist where it is determined that the total number of such facilities will exceed a population density factor of one (1) such establishment per twelve thousand (12,000) residents based on the last decennial census.
According to the census done in 2020 and the report posted on October 28th, 2021 on the Blue Springs Government website, the new population is 58,603. Divided by 12,000 gives us the ability to have 4.88 Tobacconists in the city. Rounding up, as it is likely the city will continue to grow, would make it possible for us to have five (5) Tobacconist businesses within the city.
Every shopping center up and down 7 highway is within 500 feet of a residence, a church, or a school. 500 feet away from the nearest residential location is not possible for a small business to maintain financially.
Currently, these rules allow for 4 Tobacconists in the city, and none within 500 feet in a straight line measure from a residence. The only way to overcome that 500-foot restriction is to have been grandfathered into the location.
While searching the Blue Springs City Public Records we found the Six (6) businesses active with the Industry Classification TO***CO/ CIGAR / V**E RETAIL – 453991. In order of when those were established, we have:
The Cigar Merchant: 6-18-2008
V***r Up: 9-9-2011
CigaWatt: 6-5-2013
V**e Escape: 8-17-2015
V***r World: 5-15-2017
Rize N Grind Skate and Glass Gallery: 1-22-21
Look at that last date closely…
February 10th we attended a meeting with the Director and Assistant Director of Community Development for the City of Blue Springs, it was made clear that we must apply for a conditional use permit to relocate. After the application, we will appear in front of the planning commission and city council. Those meeting dates are March 14th for the Planning Commission and March 21st for the City Council.
Here is where it gets messy. We have to be out of the current location on March 20th. This means we will not know if we can relocate until after we have to be out of the current location. Our Warrensburg location will remain open as long as possible and products will be transferred there so you will still have some access to the products you enjoy. However, to make sure that this is a temporary lapse of our doors being open we need your help!
For our Warrensburg customers, this does not just affect Blue Springs. This will affect you as well. Without the shop open in Blue Springs, we will not be able to maintain the products and prices we currently function at. Please help where you can whether that is sending emails, letters, making phone calls, or attending the public meetings with us.
TL:DR
Blue Springs store needs to relocate and if you don't want to see both stores close, contact the City Council of Blue Springs and tell them you want us to stick around and attend the meetings. (info listed below: HERE IS WHERE WE NEED HELP)
HERE IS WHERE WE NEED HELP:
Make sure the City of Blue Springs knows you want us around.
Write them emails, write them letters, leave them messages.
Tell them what we mean to you, why you want us to stay here to keep serving you.
Attend the public meetings. We will be there too.
March 14th, Planning Commission
March 21st, City Council This is the meeting we will have time allotted to speak and make our case to be allowed to relocate.
Contact info:
Mayor:
Carson Ross
[email protected]
816-228-0110
District 1 Councilmembers
Jerry Kaylor
[email protected]
816-220-0599
Galen Ericson
[email protected]
816-210-8293
District 2 Councilmembers
Kent Edmondson
[email protected]
816-215-8175
Chris Lievsay
[email protected]
816-674-5108
District 3 Councilmembers
Susan Culpepper
[email protected]
816-916-5696
Ron Fowler
[email protected]
816-228-1568
