Watch your back Portland. The new set of regulations and permits we told you about this winter that will reportedly create more flexible opportunities for food and drink entrepreneurs and create new zones around Seattle for mobile street food vendors has made its way to the City Council. Wednesday morning, the Committee on the Built Environment chaired by Sally Clark will be briefed on Council Bill 117165, an ordinance “relating to street-food vending, merchandise displays, and sidewalk cafes.” By mid-summer, Seattle’s new street food rules could be in place.
The effort to overhaul process around Seattle’s “mobile food” industry has picked up steam with the proliferation of mobile food trucks and growing recognition of the value of creating active streets and pedestrian zones in the city. While few will object to having unique and affordable chow more readily available, planners had to contend with concerns around infrastructure details like garbage, sidewalk and curb use and bathrooms.
The new rules will create marked zones where mobile food vendors — and mobile food vendors only — will be able to park during specific hours. The legislation would also overhaul rules around sidewalk vendors and cafes.
This winter, we asked planner Gary Johnson where on the Hill a zone like this might be created by SDOT:
Should Council support this proposal, we anticipate that SDOT will pilot several (10?) of these zones in commercial zones. The focus will probably initially be on “Center City” neighborhoods around downtown, including Capitol Hill. SDOT will observe a set of setbacks in siting a food vehicle zone, including a minimum of 50’ from any food service business, setbacks from bus zones, etc. A notification process will alert neighbors that the zone is under consideration and will invite comment/input. We have identified the long Sound Transit light rail station area along Broadway as having good potential as a location. It is important to note that the Health Dept. requires that food vendors that are operating at a location for more than one hour must provide written permission for restroom access for employees (not customers) within 200’. This requirement interjects a significant degree of uncertainty related to the viability of any potential food vehicle zone.
Determining where these zones are will likely be driven by things like the bathroom issue and requests from vendors for where they would like to operate, planners say. Locations must also fit the following parameters:
What are the proposed siting regulations for food vending trucks & carts?
- 50 feet from food service business.
- 200 feet from public or private schools.
- Within 50 feet of park, SDOT needs to consult with Parks.
- Need to allow minimum 6 foot pedestrian zone in downtown urban center.
- Need to allow minimum 5 food pedestrian zone outside of downtown urban center 3 feet from curb.
- 5 feet from alleys, driveways, bus zones, parking zones, commercial loading zones.
- 5 feet from curb ramps, parking meters, pay stations, traffic signs, utility poles, fire hydrants, bike racks, and other street fixtures.
- 10 feet along the curb line from the point where the radius of corner curb area intersects curb line. 10 feet from business entrances.
- Not allowed in corner curb radius area.
According to the planning document to be presented to the Council’s committee, the bill is on track for approval by the end of June.
i.e. virtually no where in any of Capitol Hill’s business districts?
So basically they can be placed anywhere in the city where there are no people…
I’m all for food trucks… But I’m also all for more opportunities to sit outside (one those few days that our PNW weather allows it). Few things liven up a street more than people sitting outdoors at restaurants and cafes.
So, I noticed that in several places the language says that there are changes to “sidewalk cafes” in this proposed legislation, but I don’t see any reference to it in the document. Will this potentially make it easier for more cafes, even restaurants, to provide outdoor seating?
My apartment, as pictured, is directly above the spot occupied by this orange food truck. While the food does occasionally smell delicious, I’m not excited to have the greasy, smoky smell of any food truck in my apartment for the hours of the truck’s operation, and for the remainder of that day! In the spring and summer, when windows are open, it becomes fairly unbearable. I knowingly rented this apartment seven years ago in the heart of the great Capitol Hill arts and club scene, but didn’t expect to have such an malodorous relationship with food trucks! Help?!!
Well a new trend doe not care about such issues. I have tried the trucks, food is ordinary, no place to sit, no big deal.
How about a vacant lot and a sorta food court?
Sally thinks these are a big adventure, her work on the council must be really boring, cause a food truck is not my idea of anything close to fun.
Portland has a lot of these and carnival/fair gounds food is better. Yawn.
I am all for food trucks in Cap Hill. Brick and mortar restaurants are a hugely expensive and risky undertaking that is a barrier for many young cooks who have the skill, talent and great concept for a new eatery. I know a lot of Seattlites are okay with the hoardes of Thai, Teriyaki and Pho options to choose from, but I’m glad that we’ll be able to get more variety in the form of food trucks. Look at Marination Station’s huge success following upon their food truck. They were able to test the concept and develop a loyal following with their food truck before opening their storefront to huge lunch and dinner lines. Last time I checked, this kind of business creates local jobs, promotes tourism in our neighborhood, and keeps crime in check by activating pedestrian traffic.