PRESENTER: Presenter
Christopher J. Looney, AICP, Planning & Development Services Director
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SUBJECT: Title
ORD24-248 Public hearing and recommendation on amendments to Chapter 144, Zoning, regarding temporary vending operations and mobile food courts.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning & Development Services
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Food trucks typically set up either 1) temporarily on individual lots and move around to other sites and events, or 2) in conjunction with others within a more permanent mobile food court.
In order to ensure compliance with adopted ordinances for such temporary uses, New Braunfels has historically required not only health permits and inspections to ensure safe food preparation and consumption in accordance with state health codes, but also additional permits from the Planning Division to ensure compliance with temporary vending or mobile food court standards. Mobile food courts have additionally had to obtain building permits for construction of any permanent structures.
ISSUE:
These multiple different permits have resulted in confusion for customers and staff, additional expense for customers, and have lengthened permitting timelines. In the City’s continuous efforts to streamline processes, staff is proposing amendments (see attached) to:
1. Reduce the number of permits required, shifting to a “review” approach, similar to the standard building permitting procedures;
2. Remove unnecessary, onerous, or redundant rules, and
3. Clarify poorly worded and misunderstood code sections.
In conjunction with these streamlining amendments, the City’s Health & Food Safety Division is bringing forward related amendments to the City’s Health and Sanitation Ordinance to bring it up to date with state statutes. All of these amendment proposals will coincide on the same agenda at City Council.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REFERENCE:
Action 1.11: Update policies and codes to achieve development patterns that implement the goals of this plan.
Action 3.6: Proactively provide a regulatory environment that remains business and resident friendly.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☒Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☐Community Well-Being ☐N/A
2. Support Confluence, the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Strategic Plan, by helping to ensure a community that supports the targeted industries and increases the diversity of job opportunities in the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Approval.