Normal Town Council approves budget ordinance and amendment initiation on tobacco

Posted on March 5, 2024

NORMAL – The Normal Town Council approved it’s budget unanimously for its next fiscal year at Monday’s meeting.

In addition, the board voted yes to a motion to initiate a zoning amendment for tobacco businesses in Uptown Normal.

Councilmembers Scott Preston and Andy Byars were the only two to vote against the tobacco motion.

Byars’ hesitancy stems from the starting point of the possible amendment, which is to ban future tobacco shops from Uptown Normal.

“I just struggle with no tobacco shops being that starting point. I think there’s a lot of room for conversation here,” said Byars.

Byars noted that a lot of concerns about the tobacco shops are about their aesthetics than the commerce they bring in.

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