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Mount Holly council approves new rules for mobile vendors; allows canopy tents and administrative permits
Summary
City council approved text amendment TA2513 to update zoning rules for temporary and coexisting uses, permitting administrative approvals for mobile vendors, allowing secured canopy tents, and requiring permits or health approvals "if applicable." Council set an application availability date for vendors of Nov. 3.
Mount Holly City Council on Oct. 13 approved text amendment TA2513 to update the city's zoning ordinance rules on temporary and coexisting uses, a change staff and the planning commission said will clarify how mobile vendors, on-street vendors and short-term uses operate in downtown and other areas.
Planner Greg Beal told council TA2513 would allow administrative permitting for mobile and temporary uses, require permits for on-street parking and mobile uses, require business-owner contact information and a sponsoring business for downtown mobile operations, and require display of Gaston County Health Department permits where applicable.
"Allow administrative permit approvals for these mobile or temporary uses," Beal said as he recapped council direction over the past year. He added the ordinance language allows a two-hour window for reserving public parallel parking spaces and permits secured canopy tents for customers, but does not allow standalone tents that would occupy multiple parking spaces.
Council member Hough asked whether the ordinance would allow canopies during rain or extreme heat. Beal replied, "Yes. Since the last time, so it does allow for a properly way to secure the canopy tent for a mobile use." He and staff also clarified that health-department permits apply "if applicable," noting not every mobile use is a food vendor and that state or federal permits can apply in some cases.
Planning commission had voted unanimously to recommend approval. No members of the public signed up to speak at the council's public hearing. Council member Shoemaker moved to approve TA2513; Council member Reeves seconded. The motion passed with council announcing unanimous approval.
Beal told council staff will make the vendor application available to prospective vendors on Monday, Nov. 3 and will work with vendors one-on-one during rollout. The amendment does not change special-use-permit thresholds for events: Beal said anything with more than five mobile uses would still require a special-use permit from the board.
The ordinance also requires display of Gaston County Health Department permits where they are required for a given activity and asks vendors to provide contact information and a sponsoring business when operating in public parallel parking spaces.
Council did not attach additional restrictions or fees at the time of approval.
