Title
Consider and Discuss Potential Amendments to the City’s Food Truck Requirements
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Enhance the Quality of Life in McKinney
MEETING DATE: August 14, 2017
DEPARTMENT: Development Services
CONTACT: Michael Quint, Executive Director of Development Services
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Consider and discuss whether or not the regulations governing food trucks should be modified.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• Staff is seeking direction from the City Council regarding whether or not the City’s regulations governing food trucks should be modified.
• The City’s current regulations governing food trucks on private property were adopted in February of 2015. Councilwoman Rath and Mayor Fuller have asked that the existing regulations be revisited.
• The food truck industry began to grow rapidly during the recession when traditional “brick and mortar” restaurants were struggling and after food truck courts in cities throughout the country gained popularity. In fact, some reports show this industry grew approximately 12% annually between 2009 and 2014.
• The food truck boom made its way to McKinney in the 2012-2014 timeframe but regulations in place at the time were prohibitive.
• In February of 2015, the City Council approved ordinance number 2015-02-006 which established regulations allowing food trucks as a temporary use.
• These regulations represented an iterative, cautious step into new market for McKinney. At the time, the regulations were regarded as a “baby step” knowing that the regulations would eventually need to be modified to address new trends in the industry and intended/unintended consequences of the adopted regulations.
• Some of the feedback regarding current regulations:
o The separation requirement between food trucks and residential uses is too large.
§ Current requirement: “Food trucks shall not be allowed to engage in sales operations within 300’ of any residential zoning district or any property used for residential purposes.”
o The requirement for the food truck to leave the permitted food truck site every day is too prohibitive.
§ Current requirement: “Food trucks shall not be located or stored at the operation site between the hours of 11 pm and 7 am.”
o The minimum distance required between food truck sites is too large.
§ Current requirement: “Food trucks shall not be allowed to engage in sales operations within 1,000’ of one another.”