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Food truck debate continues for Chapel Hill

Posted on October 20, 2011October 20, 2011 by Susan Dickson

By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
CHAPEL HILL – Chapel Hill took another step in the food truck debate on Monday with a public hearing on proposed regulations for food trucks.

In May, the council directed staff to develop draft regulations that would allow the trucks in town. The discussion stems from a petition last year by Lex Alexander, owner of 3Cups café on Elliott Road, that the town change regulations to allow food trucks. Town regulations allow them downtown during town-sponsored events, such as Festifall, and on private property with special-events permits.

Kendal Brown, principal planner for Chapel Hill, presented a draft ordinance based on feedback from the council, vendors and other businesses.

The draft ordinance proposes allowing food trucks on private, commercially zoned lots, subject to approval by the property owner. Food trucks would have to be at least 100 feet from the customer entrance of a restaurant during its hours of operation and could not provide seating.

In the downtown area, trucks would only be allowed to operate in lots with at least five parking spaces and an existing business in a permanent building, while the business is closed. One truck would be allowed per 1,500 square feet of parking lot. Outside the downtown area, trucks could operate while the existing business is open and trucks would be limited to one vendor per acre or per 30 parking spaces.

Kristen Smith, director of public policy for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber could not support the ordinance as drafted and requested that food trucks not be allowed downtown.

“We have all prioritized downtown vibrancy, and ours has the highest density of restaurants with the highest cost of start-up,” she said. “Why would we bring in unfair competition for these restaurants and restaurateurs who have invested in our downtown and who we want to succeed?”

Smith also reiterated the chamber’s request that food trucks be tied to a local food truck commissary so that the county would not risk food trucks driving into town from outside the area at certain times to capitalize on peak traffic.

Steve Williams said he plans to open a mobile food business early next year and that he hopes the ordinance will allow trailers, as he plans to use a 1976 airstream trailer.

“We don’t have a need to come to Chapel Hill, but we’d like the option to come,” he said.

Brown said the planning department is considering including trailers in the ordinance.

Council members did not discuss the ordinance at length, and will revisit the issue and possibly take action on the ordinance on Nov. 21.

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