Page County planning panel forwards mobile food and catering rules to public hearing after detailed permit, signage debate

The Page County Planning Commission on Tuesday reviewed draft zoning changes that would regulate catering facilities and mobile food vending operations, then voted to send the proposal to a public hearing on July 22.

Staff read sections of the legal-reviewed draft that would require business licensing and health-department approvals and limit outward changes to a dwelling used for catering. As staff put it, "Catering facility shall not have any exterior evidence of such secondary use, excluding vehicles stored on-site," text that prompted several commissioners to press for clarification.

"Exterior evidence is exterior evidence," said an unidentified commissioner during debate, arguing a sign, a smoker or a vehicle might all be treated as evidence and cautioning the language was too broad. Commissioners proposed allowing a small nameplate or narrow sign-size allowance and explicitly permitting accessory buildings to house catering operations without a strict 25% floor-area cap.

The commission also considered operational provisions including prohibitions on discharging waste to storm systems, limits on noise and shielding of electronic equipment. Staff and several members said some of the draft restrictions — notably a clause referring to "unpleasant" or subjective odors — were difficult to enforce and should be narrowed or removed. "That's a great point," staff said when the subject of odors and enforcement arose, noting the health department and noise ordinance already provide enforcement avenues.

On mobile food vending (food trucks), staff summarized a county-attorney option for permitting: one annual permit per food truck, amendable for new locations at no additional fee, with required site sketches or drawings for specific locations. The proposal would require a site sketch each time a location changes; staff flagged that frequent last-minute site submissions could be administratively burdensome.

Commissioners debated alternatives: require a full site plan only when multiple trucks will operate at a single location; set an application lead time or allow an expedited (fee-based) review; or place vending rules in a separate chapter enforced by permit staff rather than as part of the zoning ordinance. One commissioner recommended allowing some post-event permitting to avoid delaying operators whose business is often last-minute.

The draft contains several numeric safeguards: a one-year permit option for an individual truck, a recommendation that no mobile vending operate on the same property for more than three consecutive days, a 50-foot buffer from entrances to businesses that sell food and a 100-foot buffer from dwellings unless the property owner gives written permission. The draft also includes typical setback and safety distances (for example, a common provision of 15 feet from fire hydrants and driveway entrances is cited in the draft).

After discussion, the commission voted to schedule the public hearing. The motion to schedule the hearing for July 22 was moved and seconded and carried on the roll call vote.

The commission directed staff to refine ambiguous or duplicative language (for example, sign- and odor-related provisions) before the hearing and noted that enforcement responsibilities (zoning administrator, revenue/permit staff, or health department) should be clarified in the draft sent up to the Board of Supervisors.