Local mobile food vendor, When Pigs Fry, parked in front of city hall, a popular spot for food trucks. (Submitted/When Pigs Fry) 

By Alison Sandstrom

New Regulations On The Table

Call for food trucks to keep their distance

Nov 14, 2019 | 1:00 PM

P.A.’s food trucks may have been a big hit with the public this summer, but some local businesses are less than impressed that the vehicles are infringing on their territory.

On Tuesday night, city council discussed creating a mandatory buffer zone around restaurants where food trucks would not be able to set up shop.

In the battle for the hearts and stomachs of Prince Albert, some local establishments feel food trucks have an unfair advantage because they pay significantly lower fees and taxes to the city.

“You look at the one store that complained to me, [it] has 16 employees and pays us $22,000 a year in property tax,” Mayor Greg Dionne told paNOW speaking after the meeting.

“So why should he be infringed on by someone that pays $500-$600? I agree with that.”

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Right now, the existing bylaw does not permit food trucks to be located on city streets directly in front of a restaurant. Private property is not included, and mobile vendors can technically set up shop beside or nearby an existing establishment.

“It was our first year where the food trucks got aggressive, so it’s time to have a look at them,” Dionne said.

He initially suggested that the vehicles be made to park at least 100 metres away from existing eateries.

While there was an appetite for new regulations around the council table, as councillors chewed through the issue, they agreed the limit suggested by the mayor might not work in the compact downtown. Nearby city hall and beside the river have become particularly popular spots for the trucks.

“I like the spirit of this conversation, it’s fantastic,” coun. Ted Zurakowski told the meeting.

“But I may not be walking 50 metres for a cheeseburger. I’m certainly not walking 300 metres for a cheeseburger. So, I’d like to get the number right.”

City administration will prepare a report detailing various distances and options to update the bylaw.

Over the winter, councillors will try to strike a careful balance between restaurants’ concerns and consumers’ hunger for accessible street food.

“These are an attraction to a lot of people, so I hesitate to restrict it too much,” coun. Blake Edwards cautioned during the meeting.

The hope is that a new policy will be in place by the time the trucks hit the road next summer.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom