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Selectmen reject proposal to ban food trucks from Main Street, Hagen Dock and Sea Breeze
Summary
After public comment and a contested motion, the Selectmen voted 2–3 against a motion to ban food trucks from several downtown locations; staff were directed to draft parking-ordinance language and gather further input.
Stonington — Downtown restaurant owners, selectmen and residents debated whether to ban food trucks from Main Street and other high‑traffic areas this summer.
Several business owners described concerns about competition, parking and pedestrian safety; others said their businesses had not been affected and that an outright ban would be unnecessary. After discussion, John Robbins moved to adopt parking-ordinance changes banning food trucks from Main Street, Hagen Dock and Sea Breeze. The motion failed on a 2–3 vote (Brewer, Duncan and Steed in the minority against the ban). The minutes record the motion and the vote but do not include verbatim testimony from the public hearing.
Why it matters: the decision affects how the town manages downtown commerce, sidewalk and street access, and the balance between fixed-location restaurants and mobile vendors. Selectmen emphasized the need to weigh business impacts, enforcement practicality and festival exemptions.
Outcome and next steps: the board directed staff to draft more detailed parking-ordinance language, confirm enforcement mechanisms with HCSO, and return with options for defined exclusion zones or permit-based approaches.
