To the Editor,
I had to chuckle when I read recently that Wildwood saw a growing problem with smoke shops, rolled up its sleeves and said, “Let’s do something about it.” Meanwhile, here in Belleview, we’ve been scratching our heads over the very same issue.
Seems to me our neighbors to the south decided enough was enough and moved forward with distance requirements to keep future smoke shops from popping up on every corner. Existing businesses stay put, but new ones have to play by some common-sense rules. That’s called planning.
Belleview residents are concerned about the number of smoke shops in town. If everyone agrees there’s a problem, the next question ought to be, “What are we waiting for?”
Nobody is talking about shutting down lawful businesses or telling adults what they can and can’t buy. This is about making sure Belleview grows with purpose instead of waking up one morning wondering how every empty storefront ended up selling the same thing.
This should be simple. Nobody’s asking Belleview to build a rocket ship and fly to Mars. The blueprint is sitting right down the road in Wildwood. Sometimes the smartest solution isn’t inventing something new, it’s recognizing when someone else already got it right.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Belleview Resident
