Food trucks face washroom/exclusion zone rules

The City of Charlottetown has clarified its new regulations regarding food trucks in the city.

Two operators were surprised this week when they were denied permits to operate in the downtown. The city has adopted new rules this year in connection with the operation of food trucks and other temporary food service locations.

The regulations are based on a 2012 Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association study. They include an exclusion zone of 100 metres from an existing food service establishment, and a requirement for proximity to a public washroom.

The P.E.I. Restaurant and Food Services Association supports the new regulations. President Carl Nicholson said mobile food vendors are a concern to restaurant owners across the country.

"Why are operators allowed to be treated differently?" said Nicholson.

"In some of the rural areas, there's opportunities for food trucks to kind of pop in, you know, satisfy a niche. Maybe there isn't a normal operation that's not going to provide that year-round employment."

A Summerside welcome

Charlottetown's approach is in direct opposition to Summerside's, which has made a decision to encourage food trucks in the city.

"The City of Summerside, we want to reduce red tape," said Coun. Cory Thomas.

"We want to encourage these sort of businesses to come, but we want to make it a level playing field for everybody as well."

Thomas said a licensing fee in the city compensates for the lack of property tax paid by the mobile food vendors.

Caron Prins, owner of the Chip Shack, one of the two operators denied a permit this week, said she is heartened by the support she has received from both customers and local restaurant owners.

"Twitter frenzy going on right now," said Prins, as she scurried Wednesday to keep up with demand the publicity has brought.

"I've had offers to move my shack, I don't know how many times. I want to stay here."

Charlottetown restaurant Terre Rouge has posted a message of support on its Facebook page.

Prins said she has been speaking with some city councillors and she will be meeting with the planning board, in the hopes it will reconsider her permit approval. She said she will continue operatingthe Chip Shack until someone stops her.