The East Haven Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) is considering a moratorium on all applications for smoke and vape shops, on which public hearing will be held at the PZC’s special meeting on Nov. 26

The moratorium was sparked by the “unlicensed distribution of cannabis” at the Planet Zaza smoke shop on Foxon Road, according to Zoning Enforcement Officer Joe Budrow.

“[The PZC] revoked their site plan approval,” said Budrow. “That sparked safety concerns with the industry,” said Budrow.

Last September, state and local authorities conducted a fourth seizure of illegal and unregulated marijuana products at the Planet Zaza business which were sold in packages that mimicked legal products from licensed dispensaries. The incident led to the arrest of three employees at the business.

After the approved application for Planet Zaza was revoked, a sign above a store at 855 Foxon Road opened up with the banner that read Zaza City, according to Budrow. This prompted the zoning department to condition the business as a convenience store, “but when you walk in, the convenience store is neglected, and they have this highly up to date counter space area with smoke and vape, so [the PZC] were leery” of the new business operation.

The zoning department was wary of the new store “especially when we had reports that there have been two or three break ins up there, and they were kind of sketchy with the police, so they had to be pretty much approved with conditions,” said Budrow.

Along with these series of events, the PZC began voicing concerns over the total number of seven known smoke shops in East Haven that already operated as businesses, which may be more than enough.

“There was a mutual feeling that with seven known smoke and vape shops already in town, how many do we really need? Maybe we should stop applications so that we can come up with some regulations regarding the industry,” said Budrow.

Ultimately, the PZC views the issue as one tied to safety concerns and the “potential threat of illegal cannabis sales,” said Budrow, prompting the draft of a moratorium. The zoning enforcement officer said half of all applications will last for six months and will give the PZC time to draft regulations on the operation of smoke and vape shops in East Haven.

Meanwhile, the Nov. 26 public hearing will give residents the opportunity to voice their opinions on whether the moratorium should go into effect.