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Proposed smoking ban for PTC likely to draw flak at meeting tonight

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

A proposed ban on public smoking in Peachtree City, that would also affect restaurants and bars, will be hashed out tonight in a committee meeting at City Hall starting at 6 p.m.

The ordinance is expected to draw some flak as it also targets banning smoking in retail stores, public areas in buildings run by businesses and nonprofit entities. The ordinance, available at the city’s Web site, www.peachtree-city.org, also proposes to forbid smoking outdoors within 25 feet of any enclosed buildings “to insure that tobacco smoke does not enter the area through entrances, windows, ventilation systems or other means.”

The ordinance exempts private homes, hotel and motel rooms designated as smoking rooms, retail tobacco stores, special smoking rooms in nursing homes and long-term care facilities and outdoor areas of employment.

Cyndy Zombik, owner of the Hangar 74 bar and restaurant, said if Peachtree City passed such an ordinance, it would dramatically reduce their business, with patrons choosing to go to Coweta County and other areas where there aren’t any smoking bans.

“I feel like it would hurt Peachtree City as well as my business,” Zombik said, adding that it would reduce the city’s tax revenues from the establishment. “I think it’ll hurt a lot.”

A petition opposing the ordinance has been signed by 173 patrons of Hangar 74 since Saturday, Zombik said.

Zombik added thata if the ban was statewide, she wouldn’t have any problem with it.

Hangar 74 has an air purifying system to reduce the odor from smoking, and Zombik wants to upgrade the system with two new units that were recently demonstrated for a couple of weeks with great results.

But the new units won’t be purchased until Zombik knows whether or not they’ll be necessary, she said.

A representative of Hangar 74 will be at tonight’s meeting, Zombik added.