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Planning commission approves permit for two food trucks at 61 West 16th Street amid concerns about clustering
Summary
The City of Merced Planning Commission on Dec. 17 approved a conditional use permit to allow two food trucks at 61 West 16th Street, imposing operational conditions and directing staff to map existing and approved food truck plazas after a commissioner raised concerns about saturation on the 16th Street corridor.
The City of Merced Planning Commission voted 4–1 on Dec. 17 to approve conditional use permit 25-0017 and environmental review 25-0039 to allow two food trucks to operate at 61 West 16th Street, with a set of staff-recommended operating and safety conditions.
Assistant planner Matt Livingston outlined the proposal and the conditions the commission would attach if it approved the permit, including limits on hours (7 a.m.–9 p.m.), a prohibition on temporary signage and alcohol sales, required trash receptacles, indoor restroom access for employees and compliance with county environmental health and city water-quality rules. "Condition number 15 gives the city the right to revoke the CUP if excessive service calls are made to the police department," Livingston said in his presentation.
Commissioners asked several operational and neighborhood-impact questions. Commissioner Ochoa said the commission has approved many food truck plazas recently and warned of clustering on the same block: "If we keep approving these, there's gonna be 20, 30 on the same block, and I don't think that's a very good use of space." Commissioners asked staff for data on how many spaces and plazas have been approved and suggested staff prepare a map and internal review of whether the ordinance needs revision.
An attendee identifying themselves as the property representative told the commission the building must remain a car lot under its existing permit but that the owner wants to allow food trucks temporarily: "That particular building will need to stay as a car lot," the property representative said, adding the owner envisions a mixed use with a car-lot operation alongside space for food trucks.
City Attorney Rhonda Lucas advised the commission that it must judge the application under the existing ordinance and that the commission retains discretion to approve, deny or continue the item, but that staff’s recommendation met the current ordinance's standards. After discussion, the commission approved the environmental review and CUP 25-0017. The motion was made by Commissioner Ochoa and seconded by Commissioner Greggans; the item passed 4–1.
Next steps: staff will publish the permit conditions and prepare the requested map of existing and approved food truck plazas in the area to inform possible future policy or ordinance changes.
