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Selma planning board clarifies mobile food vendor rules, approves amendment to allow operational flexibility
Summary
The planning board reviewed an ordinance amendment to consolidate mobile food vendor permit language, clarified permit types and storage requirements, and approved an amendment to allow flexibility for vendors who move between private lots with documented permission.
The Town of Selma Planning Board reviewed and recommended an ordinance amendment that clarifies permit requirements for mobile food vendors and adds standards for storage and lot-by-lot operation.
Planning staff presented edits to Article 5 on mobile food vendors and an updated vendor application. Staff said the rewrite consolidated duplicate permit language and moved permit requirements into a single location in the code. Staff also added a standard requiring that a food truck, trailer or cart be removed after operating hours and stored in a legally permissible location.
Staff explained the existing practice: vendors typically obtain either a six-month permit tied to a private lot with owner permission or a single-use permit for a single day. The proposed amendment initially added language stating that if a mobile food vendor operates on two or more different lots, the vendor shall secure a separate permit for each lot. A board member objected to limiting vendors' mobility, saying vendors need flexibility to move to where customers are on weekends and at events.
After discussion, the board moved to amend the draft to allow more operational flexibility for vendors who have documented permission from private-lot owners (for example via written agreement or text message) instead of requiring a separate full permit for each additional lot. The amendment also preserved standards that trucks be removed after operating hours and stored in a legally permissible location.
Planning staff noted that health regulation remains a county responsibility: vendors must maintain Johnston County health certificates in addition to any town land-use or site-permit requirements. The code sections cited during the presentation included draft ordinance text (Ordinance 2025003-O) and references to Town UDO provisions including section 17-5-48 on mobile food vendors.
The board voted to recommend the ordinance amendment to the town council with the flexibility amendment to subsection 7; the recommendation includes the clarified requirements on storage and permits. The board did not record a detailed vote tally in the segment of the transcript provided.
