Planning Commission Agenda and Packet 2020 10 08

Home Browse Search

LL city',' Louisville COLORADO • SINCE 1878 Planning Commission Staff Report October 8, 2020 ITEM: LMCA-0309-2020 — Mobile Food Court Code Amendment PLANNER: Lisa Ritchie, AICP, Senior Planner APPLICANT: City of Louisville REQUEST: Consideration of Resolution 12, Series 2020, recommending approval of a draft ordinance amending Title 17 of the Louisville Municipal Code to establish a mobile food court use group and criteria for consideration of mobile food courts as a special review use in specified zone districts. SUMMARY: Over the past few years, the City has reviewed and adopted regulations associated with operation of mobile food vehicles, mobile retail food establishments, mobile vending carts and ice cream vendors (collectively referred to as food trucks). To date, these regulations have not included specific allowances for mobile food courts. A mobile food court differs from typical food trucks, which operate in a temporary and transitory manner in right of way or occasionally on private property in areas not specifically develop for food trucks. A food truck court typically operates as part of a food and/or beverage service business on a private lot and is developed specifically to accommodate food trucks on a permanent basis. Examples of other food truck courts include the Rayback Food Truck Park in Boudler and the Improper City Food Truck Park in Denver. Mobile food courts would not be practical under current City regulations because every food truck would need to obtain authorization from adjoining restaurants on an annual basis. An adjoining restaurant in a shopping center where the food truck court operates could in effect eliminate the ability of the food truck court to operate due to the requirement for authorization. While it is important to have this authorization requirement for typical food truck operations outside of food truck courts to ensure unfair completion with brick and mortar restaurants, a food truck court operates as a brick and mortar business and would rely on the availability of food trucks for their business plan. In addition, the proposed Special Review Use procedure will ensure food truck courts account for different impacts associated with operating in a more permanent nature. Recently, an application for a Planned Unit Development and Special Review Use was submitted requesting approval of a development that includes a mobile food court. These applications are under consideration during the same Planning Commission meeting. BACKGROUND: In 2014 and 2015, the City adopted ordinances establishing allowances and regulations for food trucks. In 2017, these regulations were amended based on experience with actual operations and to streamline permitting requirements. To date, staff finds that these new regulations are working well and do not propose changes to that portion of the 2017 ordinance at this time. These regulations are found in Sec. 17.16.310 of the Louisville Municipal Code. 0