Title
Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on a Request by the City of McKinney to Amend Section 146-42 (Temporary Uses) of the Zoning Ordinance Pertaining to Food Trucks and Temporary Food Sales
Summary
MEETING DATE: January 13, 2015
DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT: Michael Quint, Director of Planning
APPROVAL PROCESS: The recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission will be forwarded to the City Council for final action at the February 3, 2015 meeting.
RECOMMENDED PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ACTION: Staff recommends approval of the proposed amendments to Section 146-42 (Temporary Uses) of the Zoning Regulations.
ITEM SUMMARY:
· Food trucks are a growing trend, both nationally and locally. City Staff fields requests for food truck permits on a recurring basis but must turn applicants away as no regulations currently exist allowing such uses within the City of McKinney.
· Staff has drafted a series of amendments to the Zoning Ordinance which would address this issue by allowing food trucks in specific areas. Generally speaking, the proposed regulations define what food trucks are, specify the numbers of food trucks that are allowed on a property and identify properties where food trucks may operate.
· The proposed regulations represent a small, cautious step forward in the area of food trucks in McKinney. The proposed regulations are not designed to allow for the types of operations, specifically food truck courts, which are found in places like Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, or elsewhere nationally. Simply stated, the proposed regulations represent Staff's attempt to allow a growing national trend on a McKinney scale. If these regulations prove to be successful and there is additional demand, these draft regulations could be modified to be more permissive.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
· On December 15, 2014, Staff discussed the proposed regulations with the City Council and received broad support. Two specific comments were received:
o 500 foot buffers should be reduced to 300 feet; and
o Places like the Cotton Mill should be allowed at least three food trucks on site.
· Subsequent to this meeting, Staff modified the proposed regulations to reduce the buffers between food trucks and residential zones or uses and restaurants from 500 feet to 300 feet. Also, based on the size of the Cotton Mill site, 10.45 acres, the draft regulations would allow four food trucks on site so no changes were made.
· On November 13, 2014, Staff discussed the proposed regulations with McKinney Economic Development Corporation's Development Advocacy Group and received broad support.