Westmont board postpones vote on Lit Smokes vape/tobacco special‑use permit until full board

The Westmont Village Board voted on Jan. 8 to postpone final action on a special‑use permit request for a tobacco and vape retail store, JARE Enterprises LLC d/b/a Lit Smokes, at 101 West Ogden Ave until the Jan. 22 meeting so the full seven‑member board can consider the matter.

Director Hennerfein reminded trustees that the current consideration was limited to whether to reopen and then reconsider the earlier denial; if reconsideration succeeded, the board could then hear from the petitioner on the merits of the special use. The petitioner told the board the location has an existing drive‑through window but said, "We have installed a shutter there, a security shutter that can be closed at all times, and locked," and offered to add signage directing customers to enter the store, not use the window.

Trustees questioned whether the existing build‑out had restaurant equipment connected to county health approvals and clarified the petitioner’s previous plan for a bakery was denied by DuPage County Health Department, which the petitioner cited as the reason the bakery did not proceed. After discussion, several trustees said it would be preferable to have a full board vote rather than have the mayor cast a deciding vote when a full trustee quorum was absent. Trustee Matt Scales moved to postpone; Trustee Ferrelli seconded. Roll call showed Scales, Ferrelli, Plowman, Guzzo and Little voting in favor and the motion carried.

The board also noted that a related agenda item to increase the number of available tobacco licenses will be removed for this meeting because the special use is a prerequisite. The matter is scheduled for further consideration at the Jan. 22 village‑board meeting.