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Food truck owners fight back against proposed Raleigh zoning rules

Increased development and population have led Raleigh officials to create a plan that will rezone about 30 percent of the city, but the new plan could affect where food trucks are able to operate.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Increased development and population have led Raleigh officials to create a plan that will rezone about 30 percent of the city, but the new plan could affect where food trucks are able to operate.

Under the plan, food trucks would no longer be allowed to serve up dishes in areas designated as mixed-use, including Five Points, Peace and Person streets and Brier Creek. Mixed-use zoning allows a blend of residential and commercial establishments.

Jessica McCarthy owns The Humble Pig. She said her business adds to the vibrancy and food culture across the city.

"You're creating jobs, vibrancy, you’re keeping the vibrancy alive," she said. "I just think any sort of restriction is going to lessen the opportunity, and that's the opposite of what we want."

John Pugh said as a brick-and-mortar business owner, he dreams of hosting small-scale community events with projector movies and food trucks to draw business to his shop off the beaten path.

"There is plenty of development starting to happen, but we need something to happen to bring people to one place," he said.

City leaders said the idea behind eliminating the food trucks is to protect the residential mixed-use areas.

While the new map adds about 2,000 acres to zones where food trucks are allowed, some officials say they do not want a food fight on their hands.

"This is where our ordinances probably haven't kept up with the times," said City Councilwoman Mary-Ann Baldwin. "I'm all for re-looking at this and seeing if we can loosen up some of the restrictions."

More than 1,600 people have signed an online petition in effort to save the food trucks. The issue will be present to the City Council Tuesday night.

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