Bylaws just got delicious
Guelphites were invited to attend a food vehicle zoning bylaw review open house at City Hall on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. This review is part of a multi-departmental project to allow food vehicles to operate in Guelph. The project also includes a review of the business licensing bylaw and a downtown food truck pilot project, Food Truck Summer.
A zoning bylaw sets rules for a property including: the use of the land; the location of buildings and structures; and parking requirements. Currently, no food vehicles are permitted in any zone.Food vehicles are outdoor vehicles that are not permanently affixed to the ground and can be moved on a daily basis. Food vehicles sell food that is intended for immediate consumption. Some food vehicles include a motorized self-propelled vehicle such as food trucks; some are not self-propelled but can be towed such as food trailers; and some are moved by human exertion such as food carts.
Currently, no food vehicles are permitted in any zone. The draft zoning bylaw seeks to define food vehicles, allow food vehicles to operate in some zones, and regulate the location of food vehicles on a property. The zoning bylaw review is currently in its community engagement phase and will move to the formal statutory process from July 11, 2016 through September 2016. The pilot project, on the other hand, runs from June 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016.
Abby Watts, a policy planner for this project, spoke to The Ontarion about why the formal statutory process is scheduled to begin after Food Truck Summer.
“The pilot project is on the street whereas the zoning bylaw is looking at private property: commercial, industrial, and institutional lands,” explained Watts.
Although it may seem like food vehicles are a lot cheaper to operate than restaurants, the cost of permits and licensing is comparable, and can actually be much higher for food vehicles. In Guelph, the fees associated with licensing for food premises for the first year is $688 in comparison to $363 for food vehicles. Food vehicles, however, need a $40 permit for each day or a $20 permit for every half-day that they operate in Guelph. Food vehicles must also obtain licenses and permits for each city that they wish to operate in. Although it may seem like food vehicles are a lot cheaper to operate than restaurants, the cost of permits and licensing is comparable…Under the proposed bylaws, food vehicles will not be permitted downtown after 11 p.m. and will only be able to operate on campus or other properties if they are invited onto the property. The two locations for Food Truck Summer are in downtown Guelph at Wyndham Street North and at Surrey Street East. A variety of different food vehicles will operate in those two locations any time between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. beginning June 1, 2016.
The Ontarion spoke with operators from two such vehicles: Schmuck Truck, a food truck that specializes in North American comfort food; and Sprinkle, a dessert food truck that is an extension of Sweet Temptations Cupcakery.
Christine Mackay from Schmuck Truck shared her thoughts with the bylaw process.
“We’ve actually been really encouraged at how supportive and flexible the city council has been with being able to update the bylaws and really […] ask the trucks what they’re looking for. They’ve also […] asked a lot of the business owners in the community, ‘What are you looking for from the trucks?’ And they’re putting those two things together and making them a lot more accessible for both the trucks and the businesses. And that’s been huge for us here in Guelph,” said Mackay.
The Ontarion asked Sweet Temptations owner Jakki Prince if she had any concerns about her storefront due to competition from food trucks.
“We chose to add it to our established storefront business […] to have the food truck to be out in the community. We’re a community-minded business; we need to be out where the people are. We think it adds another layer to the already awesome culture and community spirit of Guelph. Food trucks can only just continue to make that pie bigger. I don’t think it’s a division of resources,” said Prince.
Photo by Mariah Bridgeman/The Ontarion