Oak Park board opens discussion on mobile food vendor rules after business complaints; staff to draft ordinance options

The Oak Park Village Board held a discussion—no ordinance vote—on potential amendments to the village's rules for mobile food vendors after a local business owner said a food truck had been stationary near her storefront and was undercutting sales.

Trustee Pericott moved, and Trustee Robinson seconded, a motion to open discussion on current regulations and possible amendments. Staff presented background and three preliminary options for the board to consider: require mobile food vendors operate at least 250 feet from existing food-and-drink establishments; designate specific areas in the village where mobile vendors may operate; or prohibit non-event mobile vending within defined business districts. Staff indicated the options apply only to non-event vending; special-event permitting would remain separate.

Naomi Diaz, administrative officer for Development Services, summarized current requirements: vendors must hold a health inspection by the village Health Department, comply with parking rules and not obstruct rights-of-way, and maintain an active business license. She said business-license fees are based on the number of required health inspections determined by the health department. Diaz said staff researched about 18 neighboring communities and that designated-area approaches had been explored previously.

Business owner Carla Linares described operating a brick-and-mortar business in Oak Park for more than 20 years and urged the board to adopt rules that create a level playing field. She asked the board to adopt a 250-foot buffer from existing food and beverage establishments, designate specific vendor areas and restrict vending in core commercial corridors such as Madison Street. Linares said a food truck had been parked near her storefront for about three months and that the owner refused to move when asked.

Trustees discussed practical considerations and enforcement issues. Several trustees expressed support for a buffer of some distance from brick-and-mortar restaurants but sought specificity to avoid banning vendors from areas that lack commercial service. Trustees asked staff to explore waste-disposal plans (for grease and food waste) similar to regulations some communities use, mapping to show the effect of a 250-foot buffer in downtown and other commercial corridors, and carve-outs for municipal or event lots (for example, Lot 10) where vendors could be permitted or leased space for limited seasons.

Other options trustees suggested staff analyze when drafting ordinance language included limiting the time a vendor may remain in a single spot (hours or maximum duration), hours-of-operation restrictions, and targeted prohibitions only when the vendor sells substantially the same menu as an adjacent business. Trustees cautioned against overly granular food-type definitions for enforcement reasons and asked that staff return with an ordinance that tries to strike a balance between protecting long-standing brick-and-mortar investments and supporting mobile food entrepreneurs.

The board did not vote on new regulations at the meeting. Staff said they will come back with draft ordinance language, a map showing buffer impacts, options for designated vending areas, special-event permitting clarifications, and possible rules for waste disposal and enforcement.