Food Trucks in Chapel Hill?

On Monday, Feb 28, the town of Chapel Hill will hold a public forum in response to Lex Alexander's petition to allow food trucks to operate on private property within town limits. Food trucks, such as Parlez-Vous Crepes and Only Burger, have a dedicated following in Durham and Carrboro, but are prohibited by zoning ordinances in Chapel Hill and Raleigh. These businesses are currently required to meet state health department regulations. At the local level, they pay for a variety of licenses, including a business license and an itinerant merchant permit. In Durham, they are required to be "tethered to a brick and mortor kitchen" and they also pay "rent" to the business whose private property they operate from (same as in Carrboro). 

Personally, I'd like to see the proposal expanded to allow them on public property in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Most of the trucks I've visited have primarily meat menus, but the pizza truck that parks outside of FullSteam Brewery on weekends has the best pizza I've ever eaten. I'd love to have them as a lunch option. And, if you have tried the pumpkin butter and dark chocolate crepe from Parlez-Vous Crepes, you've missed a wonderful treat.

So what do you think? Should these local businesses be welcomed into Chapel Hill or should they be treated as unfair competition to those restaurants who pay property taxes?

http://sogweb.sog.unc.edu/blogs/ced/?p=2584\

http://www.bullcityrising.com/2011/02/durhams-getting-a-new-incubator-this-time-round-for-food-trucks-and-foodies.html#more 

http://www.bullcityrising.com/2011/02/the-food-truck-movement-heats-up.html 

http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=6852 

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/03/840208/food-trucks-fight-city-parking.html 

http://www.mainstreet.com/slideshow/lifestyle/food-drink/americas-best-food-trucks

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/05/28/502067/food-trucks-offer-eclectic-dining.html

 

Issues: 

Comments

Food Trucks in Chapel Hill?Posted Date: 2/17/2011The Town Council will hold a public forum on the issue of food trucks in Chapel Hill at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, in the Council Chamber of Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The Town received a citizen's petition to consider permitting and regulating food trucks. The Council invites input into the questions of whether food trucks should be allowed to operate on private property in town and under what restrictions. Town zoning regulations are silent on food trucks on private property. Under state regulations, a food truck must operate in conjunction with a permitted restaurant for daily cleaning and servicing, and for solid and liquid waste disposal. Residents with an interest in this topic are encouraged to attend the Council meeting of Feb. 28. If you are unable to attend the meeting, ideas and comments about this issue may be sent to Kendal Brown, Town of Chapel Hill planner, atkbrown@townofchapelhill.org or 919-968-2728.

 

Community Guidelines

By using this site, you agree to our community guidelines. Inappropriate or disruptive behavior will result in moderation or eviction.

 

Content license

By contributing to OrangePolitics, you agree to license your contributions under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Creative Commons License

 
Zircon - This is a contributing Drupal Theme
Design by WeebPal.