Chapel Hill welcomed its first food truck about two weeks ago, and more meals on wheels could soon be on the town’s streets if the Chapel Hill Town Council revises what some are calling a restrictive ordinance.
Baguettaboutit, which sells french-bread wrapped sausages, is the only food truck permitted to operate in Chapel Hill.
Its owner, Rob Gardner, said he had wanted to operate in the town since the council passed an ordinance in January allowing food trucks to operate in private lots.
After the council received only one permit application— from Baguettaboutit — since the ordinance was passed, councilman Lee Storrow asked the council to revise the ordinance to make it less restrictive.
“Under the current ordinance, it is clear we will have minimal participation from the trucks,” said Storrow.
It requires food truck owners to pay an annual $600 fee, as well as a $118 zoning compliance fee.
Storrow said many food truck owners have said the costs deter them from moving into Chapel Hill.
“They felt like we created a culture and a climate with the way we talked about the ordinance that we didn’t want them here,” he said.
“When you compare the costs, it just doesn’t make economic sense for entrepreneurs to apply for a permit from Chapel Hill.”
Gardner said he decided to purchase a Chapel Hill permit because his friends and family are here.
