Buellton planning commission recommends parameters for potential food-truck ordinance

The Buellton Planning Commission on Wednesday discussed staff recommendations for a potential food-truck ordinance and offered direction on where and how the city should allow mobile food vendors.

Staff told the commission the city currently permits food trucks only for special, permitted events and that the Avenue of the Flags specific plan encourages food trucks but lacks an established permit type, fees or zoning standards. "Staff is seeking direction from the commission for consideration in a potential food truck ordinance," the presenter said.

Commissioners generally signaled support for both concentrated “food-truck pods” and limited standalone trucks in nonresidential areas. "I like the idea of pods where they might be, and I do like the idea of stand alone on Industrial Way," one commissioner said, urging pods where permanent amenities such as restrooms, power hookups and lighting could be provided.

Commissioners identified Industrial Way and the Avenue of the Flags specific-plan area as preferred locations; several said McMurray Road and Highway 246 should be avoided because of congestion, construction and safety concerns. "I don't like McMurray Road because that's gonna get congested in the future," a commissioner said. Another added that Caltrans permits make Highway 246 impractical for new access.

On operational standards, commissioners suggested time and frequency limits for standalone vendors (one commissioner proposed a night-time ban such as 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.), limits on how long a truck may occupy the same public spot, buffer zones from residences and schools, and controls on amplified music and lighting to preserve neighborhood quality. Staff noted county environmental health rules could require restrooms within roughly 500 feet; commissioners said porta-potties or nearby permanent restroom access should be addressed in the ordinance for pods.

The commission also discussed practical regulation issues: limits on the number of trucks per parking lot or a cap on the share of parking a truck can displace (staff cited examples that limit a percentage of spaces), setbacks and view-triangle requirements at intersections, vehicle-storage and commissary rules so trucks are not stored on residential lots, and enforcement burdens and fees.

"There's a lot of considerations, beyond just local standards," the planning director said, noting coordination with county health and air-quality authorities may be required for generators and certain pollutant or noise concerns.

Staff will take the commission's feedback to the City Council and draft ordinance options reflecting the preferred locations, allowable pod configurations, operating hours, restroom and generator/noise provisions, parking impacts and permitting requirements; the draft would return to the planning commission and council for formal review and possible adoption.

At the same meeting the commission approved the minutes of its June 4 meeting (motion carried unanimously) and heard brief commissioner comments about library-site conditions and local events. The planning director invited residents to a Barbecue Bonanza at Riverview Park on July 25.

The commission adjourned at 6:42 p.m.