Hoover Council Approves Moratorium On Certain Business Licences

HOOVER, AL - Potential retailers wanting to open certain businesses in Hoover will now have to wait 12 months for a license, thanks to a resolution passed by the Hoover City Council this week. The council voted 4-3 to approve the moratorium for businesses such as e-cigarette stores, pawn shops and payday loan centers.

Hoover Councilman Casey Middlebrooks proposed the moratorium, saying these types of businesses are undesirable and hinder the recruitment of other desirable businesses, according to a report by the Hoover Sun. Middlebrooks said many council members campaigned on the idea of protecting older, established neighborhoods from decay and he believes this moratorium is a step in fulfilling that promise.

Councilmen Curt Posey, Derrick Murphy and John Greene joined Middlebrooks in approving the moratorium, while Councilman Mike Shaw, John Lyda and Gene Smith voted against it. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Patch morning newsletter.)

Shaw has offered a proposal that would limit vape shops, pawn shops, body art establishments and short-term loan shops to C-2 commercial districts and prohibit them within 500 feet of a residential district or within 1,000 feet of each other. The Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 8 recommended the City Council approve those restrictions, and the council is set to vote on them on Nov. 5.

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