ASHLEY TERRY
Plans for a new tobacco store at 342 Northwest Parkway, Suite 202, have gone up in smoke after Azle City Council members denied a specific use permit during a regular meeting July 7.
The application — submitted by Ramavathy Korada — was denied by council members due to concerns about the location and whether the proposed business aligns with the city’s long-term vision.
According to the agenda packet, the applicant sought a specific use permit to operate a smoke and tobacco shop inside the former Stardust Roller Rink building, which was recently remodeled into a spa and salon facility. The property, located on the southeast corner of Northwest Parkway and Dunaway Lane, required an SUP to operate within the commercial zoning district.
During the public hearing, two residents spoke in opposition to the proposed tobacco shop. Alexander Lora, who lives down the road from the property on Macadamia Drive, said that while he’s not a smoker, he doesn’t oppose the business itself — just the location.
“I live at Azle Grove. I frequent this intersection multiple times a week,” Lora explained. “This is one of the primary exit points for our neighborhood, with the other entry point being the hospital. When you’re coming down (Highway) 199, you have to take that exit, and the first thing you see as you’re coming up to the hospital is two smoke shops there. If I exit through the backside through Azle Highway, on the other side, there’s smoke shops and on this side, there’s a smoke shop right across the highway, less than 100 meters from there.”
With many new homes being constructed in his neighborhood, Lora said his main concern is that the smoke shop will expose more students to the dangers of vapes and cigarettes.
“You’re sending a message by approving these that that’s what’s good for our community,” Lora said. “It’s not about, ‘Are they going to be selling to kids?’ That’s not my argument. My argument is this particular intersection is an entry and exit point for kids … and the first thing that they’re going to see on that corner is a smoke shop.”
Lora told council members that approving the SUP would send a message that smoking is “good for the community,” and advised them to consider the “people, families and kids” during their assessment of where the city of Azle will look like 20 years from now.
“We recognize that it’s a vice,” he said. “I try not to judge people who do it, but at the same time, I’m not going to be promoting it, and I don’t want it promoted in my community.”
Steve Newman, who lives on Kona Drive, also echoed Lora’s concerns about promoting smoking, stating that he found eight smoke shop locations on Google Maps inside Azle’s city limits.
“If these people want to make a living selling cigarettes, vapes, CBD, more power to you … I don’t care if they make a business out of it … but I don’t want it under my nose,” Newman said. “I’m not coming against the employee or the employer — I’m coming against where it’s at, and I don’t want it there. I think I speak for a whole lot of people in Azle.”
After closing the public hearing, Morris Kumar — who spoke on behalf of his mother and applicant Korada — explained that the proposed business would operate responsibly, comply with all city regulations and contribute positively to Azle.
He explained that the project would bring several benefits to the city, like generating sales tax revenue and local employment opportunities. Kumar stressed that responsible operation is “one of our highest priorities,” arguing that they would never sell an age-restricted product to minors and that their business would never include any gaming machines, gambling activities or adult entertainment products.
“This store will remain a strictly retail establishment. These commitments are voluntary because we want the council and the community to understand exactly what type of business we intend to operate,” he said. “We are committed to being a responsible, long-term member of the Azle business community … Our goal is to earn the trust of both the council and the neighbors through responsible business operations every day.”
Despite Kumar’s presentation, council members expressed hesitancy in approving the SUP, with Mayor Randa Goode arguing the smoke shop doesn’t align with the city’s long-term goals.
“We’ve worked very hard these last few years on our Comprehensive Master Plan and our Future Land Use, and this, to me, does not fall within what our vision is,” Goode said. “I’m not in favor of granting it.”
Place 6 council member Brian Conner said he also agrees with the public comments and explained how smoking is already an issue at the Azle Independent School District.
“I work for the alternative campus for Azle ISD (DAEP) and I can tell you the No. 1 reason kids are on campus is for vapes,” Conner said. “While I definitely want to support businesses coming to Azle, I don't want to support something that's going to possibly cause our students more issues.”
Despite a 3-1 recommendation for approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission June 18, council denied the permit 4-0, with Place 5 council member Rouel Rothenberger abstaining. Mayor Pro Tem Stacy Peek and Place 2 council member Amy Hedges were absent.
