A couple months after passing the city’s first food truck ordinance, which said food trucks can’t park within 100 feet of a brick-and-mortar restaurant, mobile food businesses complained they were starved for spots.
Albuquerque City Councilor Isaac Benton said food trucks expressed difficulty parking Downtown, his district, where spaces were few and far between.
Food trucks will be allowed to park within 75ft of restaurants. Photo by: John West
So he proposed shorting the distance from 100 feet to 75 feet.
“In a crowded place like Downtown, the 75 foot buffer made a few spots along the street possible to set up where they had not been able to set up in the past,” Benton said.
That proposed ordinance change passed during the Albuquerque City Council meeting Monday night. The change also allows food trucks to park in front of restaurants when the restaurant is closed. This is especially applicable to Downtown eateries, some which close early and don’t serve dinner. Food trucks can park in front of open restaurants if they have permission from the owner.
Though the changes to the ordinance was seen as a minor fix, it’s clear the food truck ordinance debate isn’t over.
Several Downtown restaurant owners expressed concern with the entire ordinance, which was originally passed in September.
The owner of Last Call, Luis Enrique Valdovinos, said he had concerns about shortening the buffer and regulating vendors. Another Downtown restaurant owner said he was never properly informed of the food truck ordinance in the first place.
City councilor Ken Sanchez, who was the only councilor to vote against the ordinance changes, said while competition is good, the thought is the city should protect established restaurant owners.
“While we want to welcome mobile food units where they can make a living, we need to protect those owners who have been in business for a long time,” Sanchez said.
By: Stephanie Guzman (Albuquerque Business First)
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