Council approves special-use permit for single food truck at 1710 Country Club Road

The Harrisonburg City Council on Monday approved a special-use permit to allow a single mobile food truck to operate at 1710 Country Club Road, moving the property’s use toward the city’s mixed‑use vision. Adam Fletcher, the city’s Director of Community Development, told the council the property sits in the 100‑year floodplain and floodway and that staff had recommended four conditions to protect public safety and floodplain requirements.

Fletcher said staff had no use‑based objections but flagged site issues — including a prior notice of violation and missing entrance curbing — and recommended conditions that include limiting the site to one mobile food truck, prohibiting customer parking between the building and the public street, and requiring the entrance curbing to be reestablished within 60 days (with a one‑time 60‑day extension allowed). "So in this particular case, we believe that 1 mobile food truck is what should be permitted," Fletcher said during the presentation.

The applicant, Nelson Rote, told the council his truck would offer Cuban/Caribbean cuisine. "On this food truck, we tried to sell, Cuban food ... we don't have in here, like, Cuban food," Rote said, noting a desire to expand local dining options. Residents and planning‑commission supporters spoke in favor during the public hearing, and Planning Commission had recommended approval unanimously.

Councilmember motioning and a second led to a roll‑call vote; council recorded unanimous 'aye' votes and approved the permit with staff conditions. The approval carries follow‑up requirements: staff will monitor reestablishment of curbing and adherence to the floodplain permit and the mobile‑unit conditions. The council indicated it expects staff to enforce the conditions and to use the one‑time extension clause only where appropriate.