Cedar Park City Council is considering whether to broaden policies for mobile food vendors in the city following discussion at City Council's July 10 meeting.
Planning Manager Amy Link said the city's code currently allows two vendor applications: one for peddlers who offer wares by roadsides and one for seasonal vendors near area businesses such as snow cone stands. However, local business owners have asked the city about permitting more-permanent vendors who would retail food from their parked trailers, Link said.
Link said city staff can write a potential ordinance amendment that would allow the trailers.
Cedar Park resident Levi Lambert has proposed building a new mobile food vendor park, Foodapalooza, southeast of Whitestone Boulevard and Parmer Lane. Rick Redmond, owner of Lone Star Grille & Bubba's Backyard, told City Council he hopes to add vendors to make an outdoor food court at the restaurant.
"It's built not only as a restaurant but [as] a real eclectic venue," Redmond said. "Without any advertising, Fridays and Saturdays [are] getting pretty much pommelled by guests."
Redmond said some restaurant guests wait for hours to be seated or to be served their orders.
"The kitchen's not built or designed for a thousand people wanting to eat at the same time," he said.
He said an outdoor trailer court could give guests less waiting and more culinary options.
Redmond bought a food trailer for Lone Star Grille because he presumed the city already allowed mobile vendors on commercial-zoned property, he said.
"I didn't realize Cedar Park didn't have a mobile food trailer ordinance, because pretty much every city around you guys does [have one] of some sort," Redmond said.
A similar attraction in Dallas called Truck Yard is both a restaurant and an outdoor food court, with shade and vendors who offer a variety of dinners, drinks and desserts, Redmond said.
Place 4 Councilman Lowell Moore said Austin has allowed food vendors with success, yielding no discernible negative impact to the city because of the businesses.
But Place 3 Councilman Lyle Grimes asked what the city's gain would be. Residents have told him they want new restaurants in Cedar Park but do not ask about food trailers, Grimes said.
Link said the city could add a specific article that requires food trailer owners to apply for permits with annual renewals. Vendors would also need to obtain applicable county permits and would not be allowed to stay long-term in residential areas, she said.
Place 1 Councilman Stephen Thomas said he is not opposed to food vendors.
"I'd kind of rather have one area [for them], instead of scattered all over the city," he said.
Mayor Matt Powell said he favors mobile vendors that could bring eclectic food to the city. He said although at first he was skeptical of food trailers, he grew to appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of their fare—such as a trailer with Moroccan food—and their cleanliness.
"How do they keep [the trailers] clean?" Powell said. "I've been very pleasantly surprised."
Powell suggested Cedar Park leaders ask other city leaders about their food trailer ordinances and experiences.
Place 2 Councilman Corbin Van Arsdale said he wonders how existing restaurant owners would react to the city allowing mobile food vendors and their potential competition.
"I personally enjoy the food trailers in Austin but wanted to get feedback from Cedar Park residents, shoppers, restaurants, and businesses about this," Van Arsdale wrote in a July 14 email to constituents. "What is your opinion on this? Should they be allowed?"
