Belfast planning board approves Coastal Bites food-truck park with conditions

The Belfast Planning Board on June 26 approved a site-plan amendment allowing a food-truck park, Coastal Bites, at the former Wentworth Event Center at 139 Sears Ford Avenue, subject to conditions aimed at limiting noise, traffic and off-hours access. Planning and codes director Bob Forner presented draft findings concluding the property is an existing nonconforming event-center use in the Searsport Avenue Waterfront Zoning District and that municipal water and sewer capacity are adequate for the proposed food-truck operations.

Applicant Christine Wentworth told the board she envisions up to five food trucks on site on a typical day, with special-event flexibility. "I want to continue to invite the community onto the property," Wentworth said, adding the park is intended as an incubator for small food businesses. She said two trucks are ready to begin pop-up service immediately and others are interested once utilities are restored.

The board’s conditions include: limiting routine operations to five food trucks (with an explicit exception allowing more trucks for short-term special events under event-use rules); an hours-of-operation expectation aligned with the town noise ordinance (closing by 11:00 p.m. on typical summer nights); installation of signage to mark private-property limits; security cameras and closure of curb cuts during off-hours; screened dumpster service and a third-party trash contract; and lighting standards (downward-directed fixtures, below 3,000 K, to avoid glare). The board also required that any substantial new planning-board-reviewed uses or major site changes return to the board for review.

On the question of power and generators, staff and the applicant agreed to a ramp-up approach: trucks may initially rely on their own power or temporary arrangements, but the board added a condition barring regular generator use beyond 01/01/2025 so the site must be connected to permanent utilities by that date. Forner noted that the draft findings will be amended to reflect the applicant’s statement that generators may be used temporarily during start-up.

Neighbors voiced mixed views during the public hearing. Linda Farmer, who lives adjacent to the property, said she strongly objects, citing security risks, potential traffic conflicts when exiting her driveway, concerns about odors and runoff from food vendors, and fear of a "carnival atmosphere" if the site operates frequently. "The traffic is going to be probably horrific getting in and out with that next door," Farmer said. Other neighbors, including Katie Winship and Doris Oread, said past events were relatively limited and that modest, well-managed food-truck operations could be an asset if lighting and noise were controlled.

Staff reported that the existing on-site parking exceeds the code standard, with at least 20 dedicated spaces plus overflow, and that the applicant has identified locations for accessible parking and an accessible restroom structure to be connected to city sewer. The board discussed how future changes — for example, rebuilding a full event center or adding a different commercial use — would trigger return to the board. Forner recommended and the board adopted a condition that any new planning-board-level uses or substantial site changes require new review.

After discussing draft findings and conditions and incorporating the agreed changes, the board voted to approve the findings of fact, the conditions and the site-plan amendment as amended. The chair announced the motions carried with the board's approval.

The approval allows Coastal Bites to move ahead under the conditions adopted by the board; the applicant and staff will follow up on permits (sign permit, code-enforcement review of restroom and any permanent structures) and on the timeline to restore permanent power by the January 2025 date required in the conditions.