Today’s agenda for the City Council deals with issue TC-5-11 (PDF), which would severely restrict food truck activity throughout the city, not just in downtown. The first two sections state:

•   Located on a lot containing a principal building(s) or use zoned SC, NB, BUS, TD, I-1 or I-2; and the maximum number of food trucks per lot shall be limited as follows:

o maximum of one (1) food truck on lots of one-half (1/2) acre or less;
o maximum of two (2) food trucks on lots between one-half (1/2) acre and
one (1) acre;
o maximum of three (3) food trucks on lots greater than one acre and less than two (2) acres; and
o no maximum on lots two (2) acres or greater.

•   Located a minimum of 150 feet from the main entrance or outdoor dining area of any business selling food and 50 feet from any permitted food vending cart location unless the owner of the subject business gives written permission; location unless the owner of the subject business gives written permission;

There are some good arguments against food trucks, but the maximum of a truck per half acre doesn’t make sense, especially on private property. Hopefully the City Council will not allow this to pass. We can come up with a better solution that helps both food truck owners and brick-and-mortar restaurants alike.