We are so enlightened and selfless. Several in the Asheville foodtopia community (as they refer to themselves) are concerned that food trucks will bring down the tone of the neighborhood. People will trash the streets with litter, there aren’t enough cops to look after the safety of the vendors, and health inspectors will have to make sure the vehicles aren’t rat-infested. Some communitarians are concerned chains might set up shop or other businesses might not sell locally-grown organic produce. An evil blogger might conclude restaurateurs are lying, and attempting to use government to eliminate market competition. Asheville city staff compiled a list of items restaurateurs and citizens wanted in the ordinance:

  • Proposing the use of “plug-in” devices rather than relying on generators
  • Requiring decibel limits for generators
  • Limiting the size of food trucks that can be permitted
  • Limiting locations and hours of operation for the vendors
  • Limiting sales from trucks to food only
  • Limiting truck vending locations to private property, no on-street parking spaces
  • Limiting the number of trucks to be permitted downtown
  • Denying the placement of tables and chairs in the proximity of truck vendors
  • Emphasizing the importance of Health Department regulations
  • Requesting details on how enforcement would be handled
  • Not allowing food truck vendors downtown
  • Regulating the appearance of food trucks
  • Limiting food trucks to local owners only
  • A system for determining the quality and variety of food offered
  • A requirement for restroom access for food truck patrons
  • A distance requirement, keeping food trucks away from restaurants
  • A requirement prohibiting chain restaurants from getting a permit
  • A lower limit on the number of trucks permitted citywide and downtown
  • A specific liability insurance requirement for food trucks

Some wanted even more restrictions. Staff, feeling some of the requests were un-Constitutional or unenforceable, left a lot of the requests out of the ordinance. Some features remaining include restrictions on shading devices, limitations on signage, allowance of only one chair per truck and no step steps, and an 8-foot vegetative buffer requirement. Asheville City Council will take public comment on the new ordinance tonight.