A decision will be made soon on when the ban discussion will begin, said Albright on Wednesday. How long can the council wait to enact restrictive zoning? “We do not have to act tonight” on the zoning in order to stop Newton Firearms from opening at 709 Washington St., said Norton on Monday. “We have spent more time debating garage widths” than gun stores. The city has until Aug. 9 to enact the restrictive zoning, which would be retroactive to April 23. Because Washington Street is not one of the areas zoned for a gun shop in the ordinance, Newton Firearms would not be able to open there if the zoning passed.