Food trucks in Cochrane have been kicked off the streets, public streets that is.
Awko Taco and Grilled, the two food trucks currently operating in town have been kicked from the curb after the Town of Cochrane administration re-adjusted the guidelines for the mobile food vendors pilot program.
Both food trucks owners took to social media last week to express their concerns with the change.
“This is a huge blow to my small, seasonal family business. So today we are trying to make a game plan moving forward,” the Awko Taco Food Truck Facebook post stated.
The Grilled truck also wrote a Facebook post stating the owner was planning on grilling in Historical Downtown but was informed that “food trucks can no longer park on the street in Cochrane.”
When the program launched last fall, on-street parking was prohibited and the food trucks were limited to a few parking lots throughout town. In May, the vendors were told via email and verbally the guidelines had been adjusted and they would be allowed to park on public streets. While the trucks were given approval, the development permit guidelines were not officially changed.
“We were getting a lot of complaints, and as part of this, the realization came to be that the allowance (to park on public roadways) should have never been made,” said Mayor Ivan Brooker.
“You have to follow the rules of what is in the development permit.”
Administration confirmed that there has been “several complaints” from businesses in town about the food trucks operating and said they are working on creating a policy outlining where the food trucks can and cannot park.
“We are committed to working with the food trucks, we want the pilot project to be a success and we want to explore different opportunities with these guys,” said Drew Hyndman, senior manager of development services for the town.
The two food trucks are currently allowed to park at the Cochrane Ranche, the Zero Gravity Skatepark, Mitford Pond, the two dog parks, and the Big Hill Leisure Pool and curling rink parking lot. According to the current mobile food vendor guidelines, all operation areas are reviewed and approved as part of the development permit process – operations on private land require written authorization from the registered landowner and operation areas on public lands require authorization from the town.
The mayor said the town is not against food trucks but just wants to create a “level-playing field for everyone.”
“All I did was request to administration that we would like to gather all of the feedback both positive and negative and it can come to council in September so council can understand and decide if the development permit should remain as is or change,” Brooker said.
“I want people to understand that we don’t want to get rid of food trucks in the Town of Cochrane, there is a place for them … the question remains, was it fair that they were allowed to park on downtown streets? That is what the debate will be and I think there is likely some sort of compromise at the end of the day.”
For those wanting to weigh in about food trucks in Cochrane, administration can be reached at 403-851-2570 or by email at [email protected].
For more information on the program go to cochrane.ca/724/Mobile-Food-Vendors.
