The Planning Advisory Board on Aug. 20 approved a conditional-use site plan allowing outdoor food‑sales from vehicles (food trucks) at La Lechonera El Gibarito, 1985 S. John Young Parkway. The approval includes a 90‑day trial period and a board amendment extending sales hours to midnight during that trial.

Planning staff presented the request as a conditional use for a special event on approximately 1.11 acres currently zoned highway commercial. Staff said the restaurant closes at 6 p.m.; the proposal calls for up to six food trucks and six tents with tables and chairs to operate as a special event after restaurant hours. Staff recommended limiting operations to Wednesday–Sunday, 7–10 p.m., citing noise ordinance restrictions and proximity to residences, and noted the city’s special-event rules require a DRC renewal for anything beyond a short-term approval.

Applicant Lisandra Grama, the business owner, asked the board to allow later hours to account for setup and teardown time. “I would actually respectfully, ask if it would be possibly reconsidered, the times, from, like, 7 to maybe extend it to midnight, because of the time what it takes to set up and ... set them apart,” Grama said. She added she does not intend to use loudspeakers and expressed support for the conditions staff recommended.

Board action: board member Alex moved to amend condition 1 to allow sales until 12 a.m.; Diana seconded the amendment and the board approved the amendment by voice vote. The subsequent motion to approve the special event with the recommended conditions as amended was made and seconded; the board approved by voice vote.

Key conditions in the approval include:
- Hours of operation (as amended): Wednesday–Sunday, 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. during the initial approval period.
- The special-event approval is valid for 90 days; any renewal or change in days/hours must go to the Development Review Committee (DRC).
- No more than six food trucks and six tents per night.
- No food‑truck or event materials may remain on-site outside approved hours.
- Use of public-address/sound-projection systems is prohibited between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. per the noise ordinance; the ban on loudspeakers remains in effect even if sales extend past 10 p.m.
- Alcohol sales and consumption are prohibited during event hours.
- Event organizers must post permits on-site, provide vendor lists and verify Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services food permits; each vendor must carry a current City business license.
- A parking agreement may be required if on‑site parking is insufficient; event organizers must provide trash collection (11 trash receptacles were suggested) and clean the site and adjacent rights-of-way immediately after the event.

Why it matters: staff framed the approval as a temporary, controlled opportunity to activate a site and support local business while balancing residential proximity and noise rules. The 90‑day trial gives staff and the applicant a chance to evaluate operational impacts and return with adjustments if needed.