The Wetumpka City Council has unanimously approved a temporary, one-year moratorium on new business licenses and building permits for a specific group of commercial establishments, citing growing public safety and zoning concerns.

The ordinance, passed at the council’s meeting on Monday, applies to new package stores, convenience stores, gas stations, vape shops, mini-warehouses, and self-storage facilities within the city’s corporate limits. The moratorium will remain in effect until June 2026, unless extended or lifted earlier by the council.

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According to WSFA, city leaders pointed to an increasing concentration of these types of businesses as a source of concern, particularly with regard to traffic congestion and the potential for increased criminal activity. The moratorium is intended to give city officials time to study the issue and determine whether changes to zoning ordinances or other regulations are necessary.

Per reporting from The Wetumpka Herald, the moratorium does not apply to businesses that submitted applications for a building permit or Alcoholic Beverage Control Board license prior to the ordinance’s approval.

City Attorney Justin Edwards also clarified that existing businesses with valid licenses will be unaffected, but those with expired licenses may not be allowed to reopen under the moratorium.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].