JAY VINSKEY
WESTFIELD – The City Council voted last week to send a motion to “investigate the permitting and regulation of food trucks within the city” to the Legislative & Ordinance Committee and a number of city departments.
Ward 2 Councilor Ralph Figy made the motion Thursday at the request of the city’s Law Department. The issue was also referred to the Health Law, Police, Business Licensing and Public Works Departments, and to the Planning Board.
“I think it’s an attempt by the city to get ahead of the curve for a change,” Figy said Tuesday morning. “We’re talking about more than your basic hot dog cart. Right now there are no regulations. I think it’s a good idea.”
Food trucks have operated in the city for years on private property such as factories, businesses, and construction sites to offer food, usually breakfast and lunch fare, but have generally been prohibited on public property.
There is currently an ordinance, Section 9-17 states that “No person shall stop his vehicle for the purpose of selling any product from such vehicle on the following streets:” which is followed by a list of 24 streets generally in the downtown area.
The ordinance also references Sec. 9-77 which states that “The chief of police shall refer all food vendors to the board of health for a mobile food service license.”
Chapter 17, Article IV also addresses “PARKING, STOPPING AND STANDING GENERALLY” but does not specifically address issues related to mobile food vendors.
Principle Planner Jay Vinskey said that interest in operating food trucks is increasing. The Food Channel has had several programs dedicated to the growing mobile food industry, where the restaurant comes to places where customers congregate.
Vinskey said that Boston recently revised its food truck ordinance to extend its regulatory controls.
“We’ve had internal discussion,” Vinskey said. “Councilor Figy motion will start a more formal process.”
“Food trucks are becoming more popular but the city has no protocols in place, no clear regulator process, no designated locations and no times when that accessory use would be allowed.”
Vinskey said that a formal review committee of the Health, Business Licensing, Police and Law departments will examine the issue and may develop language to regulate food trucks and refer a proposed ordinance to the City Council’s Legislative & Ordinance Committee.
