THOMASVILLE- The Planning and Zoning Commission met on Thursday night, where they unanimously approved the first reading of a text amendment to Chapter 22 of their code, which would allow for mobile food vending in commercially zoned areas.

City Planner Kenny Thompson began the meeting with presenting a powerpoint to the Commission, explaining this text amendment was the first step in allowing food trucks to come to Thomasville.

“We’ve been working toward a mobile food vending, food truck ordinance in earnest for the last several months, if not longer,” Thompson prefaced. “Your (the commission’s) input is very valuable to shape and frame what this ordinance can become.”

Thompson explained prior to this text amendment two public input sessions had been held, where they posted an online survey that nearly 700 people responded to.

“This is not something that was just created in a vacuum,” he said. “This was created very intentionally and thoroughly thought through.”

Of the 700 individuals who responded, 90 percent thought food trucks should be allowed in Thomasville in some capacity. When looking at where the respondents wanted to see food trucks, there was a variety of answers, including at community events, near work spaces, in public places and possibly designated areas like a food truck park.

“Most importantly for the zoning portion of this, people wanted to see food trucks on private property, not just allowed at community events and in the parks,” Thompson told the Commission. “This would require a zoning change.”

While individuals expressed wanting to see food trucks on private property, there was a concern about allowing them in residential areas due to possible noise and loitering.

Thompson explained that at this time, he recommended limiting the food trucks to commercial areas, and revisiting the topic of residential areas at a later date.

Commercial areas zoned C-1, C-2 (commercial), M, M-1 (manufacturing), D-E, D-G and D-C (downtown) were all suggested as approved locations for both mobile food vending and bases of operation.

“We think this is a good first step,” Thompson said. “This zoning would not currently allow food trucks to operate in perpetuity on private property in residential areas.”

Chairman Sam Fink asked Thompson what would happen if someone wanted to bring a food truck to a public park in a residential area. Thompson explained that would fall under programming, due to it being city property. He said the team is currently working on a plan, better developing how this would look.

Thompson also made sure to point out that despite food trucks not being able to park and sell their wares in residential neighborhoods, this would not prevent food trucks from catering private events in residential areas.

Some of the members of the Planning and Zoning Commission said while they would like to see food trucks, they did not feel that only allowing them where food establishments are already zoned solved any of Thomasville’s “food desert problems.”

Thompson understood the concerns but shared that while all of these areas are zoned for restaurants to be allowed, some of them have no actual eating establishments.

“Instead of someone having to come in and build a restaurant now, you can have a mobile food unit,” Thompson shared. “But, I absolutely think this is something we can modify to make food establishments more readily available.”

Questions also arose about current restaurants purchasing a food truck and using their base of operation as their already established restaurant. Members of the Commission asked if those restaurants would be able to park their food truck in traditional public parking.

Thompson said he was unsure about the rules related to that and would look to the Department of Public Health for guidance. However, Bases of Operation do require one parking space for the recreational vehicle plus one parking space for every two employes. So, if trucks decided to park in public parking lots, there would have to be enough availability at all times for employees as well as their truck.

With all questions answered, Bill Inman made a motion to approve the new text amendment allowing for food trucks and bases of operation to be located in commercially-zoned areas. He was seconded, with all members agreeing unanimously.