After a turbulent relationship between the Town of Cochrane and food trucks, administration has presented a draft of the new mobile food vendors bylaw at a recent open house.
“Our biggest challenge with creating the bylaw is the location – it has been to the forefront during the summer. There are a lot of different parties involved in the process and we want to make sure we are addressing all the concerns with respects to established restaurants and some of the stakeholders. People who operate the food trucks (need to) have a place that is actually legitimate from a feasibility standpoint,” explained Kemi Apanisile, planner with the Town.
“Just finding a good location that is not intrusive on residents and is not encroaching on people’s businesses has been the biggest challenge of this process.”
When the mobile food vendor pilot program launched last fall, on-street parking was prohibited and the food trucks were limited to a few parking lots throughout town. In May, the vendors were told the guidelines had been adjusted and they would be allowed to park on public streets. While the trucks were given approval, the development permit guidelines were not officially changed and administration revoked that permission at the beginning of August, due to “a number of complaints from local business owners.”
Then after an impromptu notice of motion during the August council meeting, the town reversed its decision after a unanimous vote to allow the two operating food trucks, Grilled and Awko Taco, to park in commercial areas.
Now the proposed bylaw – debuted at a recent food truck bylaw open house last Thursday – states parking will be allowed in 10 pre-approved parking spots in commercial areas and parking will be allowed in approximately five public land parking lots, with some restrictions.
“I’m questioning all the proposed spots about parking that they have – I’m not quite sure all of them will work,” said Brian Gebbie, owner/operator of Awko Taco food truck in Cochrane.
During the pilot program, administration surveyed residents asking how people felt about food trucks with the majority in favour.
Administration gathered 315 responses, with 75 per cent of people who “love them,” 19 per cent said they “will use one if it is in the right place at the right time,” about two per cent said they “don’t like them but can see how others would,” and less one per cent said they “hate them.”
“I’m excited as a planner, I’m excited about this bylaw – I think this is something that will push Cochrane forward and hopefully we will have it approved sometime towards the end of the year,” Apanisile said.
The food truck owners said they are hopeful there is more discussion with the town before the bylaw passes.
“I’m worried about the parking spots – everything else is status quo,” Gebbie said.
“It is nice to see the survey shows that there is quite a large support for us, that is good to hear.”
For more information on the program go to cochrane.ca/724/Mobile-Food-Vendors.
Proposed approved parking locations:
- 10 pre-approved spots- Private land not includedPublic land-- Cochrane Ranche parking lot (except during Farmers' Market hours)-- Off-leash/multi-use pathway parking lot at south end of River Avenue by Bow River pedestrian bridge-- Off-leash/multi-use pathway parking lot near Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre-- Riverfront Park parking lot (except during a special event unless part of the event)-- Mitford Park (except during a special event unless part of the event)-- Skateboard Park (except during a special event unless part of the event)
