Raleigh rezones, limits food trucks

The Raleigh City Council stirred up controversy last week — under the new zoning plans, food trucks will be blocked from operating in some areas where they’ve served customers for years.

Under the proposed rules, food trucks are not allowed to operate in the newly designated neighborhood mixed-use (NX) zones.

“The purpose of NX zones is to allow fewer retailers than CX (commercial mixed use) zones,” said Travis Crane, a Raleigh planning and zoning administrator. “An NX zone has closer proximity to residential neighborhoods.”

Under the new zoning maps, food trucks will receive a total increase of two thousand acres in operational areas, Crane said.

Complaints focus on NX zones, including some areas where food trucks now operate, such as portions of West Peace Street and North Person Street.

“The increase of total operating acres doesn’t mean anything if food trucks are kicked out of the areas where food truck business works,” said Mitch Kokai, senior political analyst at the right-leaning John Locke Foundation. “I would say it is an unintended consequence that council members overlooked.”

Kokai said he believes local government should let the market operate by itself, beyond basic rules to protect citizens’ health and safety.

Generation Opportunity, a non-profit organization that represents young voters, organized a petition to allow food trucks in NX zones, said Alex Johnson, a Generation Opportunity spokesperson.

“Restricting small businesses will eventually hurt this growing, vibrant city,” Johnson said. “The Raleigh City Council will realize the unintended consequences after more than 1,400 residents make their voices heard.”

Crane said he doesn’t have any opinion on the petition, which he said was presented at Tuesday’s Raleigh council meeting.

Johnson said Raleigh has stricter rules on food trucks than Durham. He said in recent years, Durham chefs have used lower entry barriers for food truck businesses to increase their food traffic.

But Jay Heikes, Chapel Hill city planner, said Chapel Hill has more stringent regulations than Raleigh.

“We haven’t received any formal complaints from food truck operators, but they always have options to work with the city council if they are unhappy with the rules,” Heikes said.

Ray Chow, operator of Raleigh food truck Hibachi Xpress who joined Generation Opportunity’s petition, is a proponent of designated parking spots.

“Designated parking spots will send positive messages to not only current food truck operators but also to young entrepreneurs by giving them good transitional experience before permanent establishment of restaurant,” Chow said. “It will revitalize Raleigh downtown.”

Kokai said to remember it is not just a debate about food trucks.

“Food trucks are one small piece of a large discussion. The discussion is about new development rules in Raleigh, and we must stay tuned.”

state@dailytarheel.com