La Porte council adopts 26-foot minimum house width and new mobile food vendor rules; staff to revisit food-truck park impacts

The La Porte City Council voted Feb. 24 to adopt an ordinance establishing a minimum 26-foot house width for new single-family dwellings and separately approved updated regulations for mobile food vendors, including a new one-day permit and event exemptions.

The housing-width ordinance (Ordinance 2025-4048) amends Chapter 106 (Zoning), Table B, to require a minimum house width of 26 feet for single-family detached and special lot-line homes. A staff presentation said Planning and Zoning recommended the change by a unanimous 9-0 vote. The ordinance takes effect 15 days after adoption and specifies that the standard applies based on the time of permit application; permit applications already submitted before the effective date are not subject to the change. The ordinance text also states violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000.

Why it matters: The change affects how houses can be built on narrow, older lots and will require some small infill lots to be combined to meet the new house-width standard. Councilmember questions during the public hearing focused on how the rule would affect 25-foot historic lots and zero‑lot‑line development; staff said the minimum house width is tied to the structure, not the lot purchase, and that current lot-area minimums (for example, 6,000 square feet for single-family detached) remain in force.

The council approved the ordinance after a motion by Councilmember Williams with a second from Councilmember McLaren. Councilmembers McCauley and Englekin were recorded as opposing the measure; the motion carried.

The council also adopted Ordinance 2025-4050, updating Chapter 22 (Businesses) to regulate mobile food vendors. Key changes include: - Exempting mobile vendors from certain right-of-way and public-property restrictions when participating in a city- or county-sponsored event. - Allowing a one-day mobile vendor permit for $50 in addition to the existing 90-day permit ($125). - Requiring access to a fixed restroom within 300 feet when serving food for more than two hours, except during city- or county-sponsored events. - Requiring electrical cords not to exceed 25 feet and to comply with the National Electrical Code and the International Fire Code as adopted by the city.

Staff said several of the edits were made to address unintended consequences and cited Sylvan Beach as a location that motivated some changes. During public discussion councilmembers and staff acknowledged possible impacts on an existing food-truck park downtown that currently operates with permission from an adjacent restaurant. Councilmember Williams and others expressed concern about inadvertently disrupting a popular Main Street attraction; staff said the food-truck park operates as a secondary use tied to a drinking-establishment zoning permit and that the city will research options and return with recommendations.

Votes at a glance (items approved same night): - Consent agenda (minutes of Feb. 10; sponsorship of La Porte Education Foundation up to $2,500; professional services contract with RKK Engineers for South Iowa Street waterline replacement, $144,630) — approved by voice vote. - Joint election agreement and election services contract with the La Porte Fire Control, Prevention and Emergency Services District for a continuation referendum called for May 3, 2025 — approved by motion. - Ordinance 2025-4049, adding Article 6 (Elections) to Chapter 2 (Administration) to adopt procedures for termination of a campaign treasurer appointment for inactive candidates/committees (as authorized by the Texas Election Code) — adopted.

What council said: During the housing-width presentation staff summarized the zoning change and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation, saying, “PNC held their public hearing, and they voted unanimously 9 to 0 to recommend approval.” On the food-truck discussion Councilmember Williams said she was concerned about the downtown park, calling it “kind of a beloved part of our Main Street” and asking staff to return with options to avoid harming existing vendors.

Next steps: Staff will publish the ordinances as required and implement the mobile-vendor permitting changes. The city also committed to researching and returning with options about how the 300-foot rule and related changes could affect the existing food-truck park and similar operations.