Maplewood’s plan and zoning commission at its monthly meeting, on Monday, is set to consider a request for an amendment to allow food trucks on Public Activity zoned areas.
The request is a conditional use exemption that would allow churches to rent out space in their licensed commercial kitchens to businesses such as caterers and food trucks.
Update: Donna Ratkowski, member of Christ Church UCC, has provided this clarification of the proposed amendment:
I just wanted to clarify one thing here. The decision of whether/when/where food trucks might operate in Maplewood is well beyond the scope of discussion planned for Monday’s Planning and Zoning meeting.
The discussion on the agenda for Monday is a request to modify the zoning ordinance to allow Public Access buildings, such as churches, to request a conditional use exemption that would allow them to rent out space in their licensed commercial kitchens to businesses such as caterers and food trucks.
If permitted, this could become a steady source of income to maintain these existing historic church buildings so they can continue their vital ministry in this community. No food sales or sales transactions would take place on the church sites.
These church buildings are used for a variety of public services that are desperately needed in and around Maplewood. Among these are food pantries, food distribution to the elderly, High School Equivalency (GED) programs, 12-step programs, community gardens, and a host of other necessary programs.
City-owned property such as the city hall, parks and the swimming pool; properties with churches; and properties owned by the MRH School District are all Public Activity zoned areas, according to the zoning map.
In April 2012 Maplewood Planning and Zoning voted to make no change to the ordinance banning food trucks. At the time, the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce spoke against allowing them. The then owners of Jimmy John’s, Rollie and Boo Conner, were especially vocal in opposition, saying food trucks stole their lunch business.
Eventually food trucks were allowed for a trial period in 2012-2013 in Sunnen Business Park, but haven’t been since then.
If the restaurant owners complain they are stealing customers, then the restaurant owners don’t know their customers very well.
I find it humorous that restaurant owners say it takes my business away from them. I have never eaten at Jimmy Johns nor do I have any desire to eat there. For me food truck service is a spur of the moment desire and decision. An impulse meal unless I go to a planned event such as Tilles park, Creve Coeur or Tower grove.
I’m never heading out to a meal at a restaurant and change all my plans upon seeing a food truck or gettin a tweet that they’re nearby.
I work downtown overlooking city garden where food trucks line up daily. I look out to see which are there and decide whether there is one I want. If not I stay in. I don’t head off to Bailys range instead. Nor do I plan on eating at Sauce on the Side but change my plans seeing that Pnoy Kings is on the curb.
As a frequent patron of both restaurants and food trucks I believe the restaurant owners perception of the food truck threat is wrong. They don’t know their patrons.
My thought would be that having a food truck commissary in Maplewood might draw a company that would look for a store front restaurant in the future. Maplewood is a great place for restaurants. Scheduling a Food a Truck Event would bring customers to our city and then after eating, they may walk through the shopping area bringing more monies to Maplewood business, or even restaurants for an after dinner cocktail.
I’d like to see food trucks at the little park on Sutton south of Manchester between Maple and Hazel (I think those are the streets). There is some street parking there on Sutton or Maple they could use, and some picnic tables at the park. Maybe just on weekends, or one Saturday a month, or something. Would be a nice change.
Hi Barry and Doug-
I just wanted to clarify one thing here. The decision of whether/when/where food trucks might operate in Maplewood is well beyond the scope of discussion planned for Monday’s Planning and Zoning meeting.
The discussion on the agenda for Monday is a request to modify the zoning ordinance to allow Public Access buildings, such as churches, to request a conditional use exemption that would allow them to rent out space in their licensed commercial kitchens to businesses such as caterers and food trucks.
If permitted, this could become a steady source of income to maintain these existing historic church buildings so they can continue their vital ministry in this community. No food sales or sales transactions would take place on the church sites.
These church buildings are used for a variety of public services that are desperately needed. Among these are food pantries, food distribution to the elderly, High School Equivalency (GED) programs, 12-step programs, community gardens, and a host of other necessary programs.
The regulation of the food trucks themselves is a more complicated issue that is outside the scope of this meeting.
Please support our local church community, and your friends and neighbors, by supporting this proposal.
Thank you for the clarification.
food truck evenings are a big draw these days- very popular. could bring in a lot of foot trafficto businesses in the loop
As a member of City Council, I would like to hear from Maplewood citizens as to what type of conditions and stipulations would be appropriate for allowing food trucks to operate in the City.
Should food trucks be allowed on public streets where they can cause traffic problems and endanger pedestrian safety? Do food trucks cannibalize business from our brick and mortar restaurants that have made significant investments in their facilities and bring needed tax revenue to the City?
There are many questions and issues that need to be addressed in crafting an ordinance. For instance, should we allow trucks at the summer concert series when a majority of the sponsorship is underwritten by Chamber members including their restaurants?
If food trucks are allowed, where and when, can they operate? How much should they be charged for a license? Food trucks don’t provide bathrooms where people can wash their hands.
Since there are numerous municipalities that allow food trucks, I suggest that people research existing ordinances from all over the country to see what other communities do and how they regulate food truck.
“food truck operation”
Barry, I think that Food Trucks could be an asset to certain events. I have seen municipalities have Food Truck Friday’s once a month or so, which would be a great community event at Ryan Hummert or Deer Creek. I think the concerts would benefit from additional food. I would buy from a truck with something different from burgers and brats, and often don’t have time to prepare food. I don’t think they should be within the downtown area, it is too congested, and does take away from business. These are a few thoughts.
Yes, I think food trucks would be a good pairing with the monthly concerts.
Although not the immediate issue being discussed, like others, I support food truck sanctioned events. While this may require some further discussion on how often and where to hold these events, there should not be a blanket legislation that prevents this discussion from taking place. While it is important to support the local businesses, it is also important to provide residents services they desire. When done correctly, food trucks can be made to benefit the entire community. Food trucks do not sell alcohol from what I have seen which is one way MW businesses make a good amount of their money. Food trucks can be another reason to bring people to the area who may be more likely to stick around for a drink afterwards. Also additional fees could be placed on food trucks that would then go to support the chamber.
Maybe exceptions could be made in terms of operating times or fees to allow those companies that already operate in the central business district a food truck, such as pie oh my. It could be similar to alcohol sale wording, “as long as less than 50% of sales comes from the food truck … “
I can definitely see both sides of this issue. On the one hand, I think food trucks are great and a fun time to visit. On the other hand, Maplewood has some great restaurants that I would hate to see lose business to food trucks, although, I question how much crossover there really is between people who were going to go out for dinner and people who want to go grab something from a food truck. For people who want fast, good food options, food trucks are great.
What I think would be best would be only allowing food trucks on a certain day, in a certain area. Something like Food Truck Friday in Tower Grove.
Most places that are known for food trucks don’t have them roaming free. Austin, for example has food truck parks (as well as many bars that don’t have kitchens, have trucks parked in back).
Maybe something like every couple of weeks have an event where trucks are allowed to park by the park on Sutton (or maybe Ryan H Memorial). Basically, make an event out of it so that people from the community and outside of the community come out, and I bet those people will spill over into the brick and mortar places at some point.
I also saw the comment: “The discussion on the agenda for Monday is a request to modify the zoning ordinance to allow Public Access buildings, such as churches, to request a conditional use exemption that would allow them to rent out space in their licensed commercial kitchens to businesses such as caterers and food trucks.”
This is a different discussion, then. But I definitely support allowing Churches to rent out their space for caterers and food trucks.
Food trucks are only becoming more and more popular and should therefore be considered an asset to Maplewood. The idea that they will take away from brick and mortar businesses is nonsense. Fearing that all kinds of pedestrian accidents might occur is also absurd, because no one is suggesting that regulations should be overlooked and safety codes should be ignored. Follow all the proper rules to ensure safety and let’s get some cool food trucks in Maplewood 🙂
Actually, food trucks have been in the business park every Thursday for the last month, and are scheduled at least through August.
Food Truck Thursdays, every Thursday at Sunnen Business Park. So far scheduled through end of September!!!
Are customers showing up and buying at the food trucks Thursdays in Sunnen Business Park?
I remember that “trial period.” It was a six month period that just happened to be during the winter and not only winter, but the winter when it snowed almost constantly and was well below freezing throughout the winter months. Does this seem like a true “trial period?” Time for Maplewood to join other destination areas around town and and allow food trucks.