EDA reviews draft mobile food-unit ordinance, seeks health and fire review

Planning staff presented a draft mobile food-unit ordinance and solicited feedback from the Economic Development Authority on zoning, signage, enforcement and public-safety coordination.

Staff described core elements of the draft: allow food trucks to operate where property owners provide permission, permit clusters of trucks (up to five) at approved sites, require a permit and a cluster manager for multi-truck sites, limit permanent infrastructure and signage such as feather flags, and require compliance with county noise and fire codes. "We're saying it has to follow county noise ordinances," planning staff said, noting generator and audio considerations would be handled through existing regulations.

Members discussed where the use should be allowed, with staff recommending primary allowance in commercial and mixed-use districts and the possibility of limited allowances for construction sites or authorized special events. Several members emphasized flexibility for property owners to host trucks with permission and underscored the need to avoid creating de facto permanent restaurants; one member observed that permanent water supply or fixed seating could trigger different health-department requirements.

Staff said the draft would be revised to incorporate the EDA's feedback, then forwarded to the Virginia Department of Health for technical review before entering the formal public process through the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.

No formal vote was taken; staff asked members to continue providing feedback and offered to return a redlined ordinance for future action.