Council weighs loosening mobile‑food rules for residential events and downtown food‑truck parks

Council on March 17 considered updates to the zoning ordinance governing mobile food units to align with state permitting changes and to expand opportunities for vendors while addressing neighborhood concerns.

Planning director Aaron Venoy said the state will require mobile‑food operators to obtain state permits rather than local permits, which prompted the city to revise local zoning. Staff floated options to allow mobile food units on residential property under specific limits — for example, up to six hours within a 24‑hour period and up to three times per year by right, with a special‑permit path for more frequent use or recurring events. Venoy and council discussed whether allowances should be property‑specific (three times per property per year) or zoning‑district specific; councilmembers generally favored property‑specific limits as more enforceable.

In commercial and downtown areas, staff reviewed a current 100‑foot separation from brick‑and‑mortar restaurants and said reducing that to 50 feet with prior permission from nearby restaurants could be an acceptable compromise. Monica Ramos, downtown director, said some downtown restaurants support 50 feet and the creation of a designated food‑truck park with managed locations and an on‑site manager to handle trash, noise and other operational issues.

Council also discussed creating a food‑truck park zoning standard (required restrooms, on‑site manager and parking expectations) and removing mobile‑food unit review from the design and historic review commission for temporary events. No ordinance change was adopted at the meeting; staff will continue stakeholder outreach, clarify how parks and schools would be treated and return with refined draft language for public hearings.