To: Mark Hafner, City Manager
From: Julie Smith, Director of Community Development
Subject:
Title
PUBLIC HEARING: Consider an ordinance approving an amendment to the City of Keller Unified Development Code (UDC), adopted by Ordinance No. 1746 dated July 7, 2015, by amending Article 3 - Definitions and Article 8 - Zoning Districts, Development Standards, Tree Preservation, related to food trucks, food truck courts and mobile vendors; authorizing publication; providing a penalty; and establishing an effective date. City of Keller, applicant. (UDC-22-0001)
Action Requested:
Conduct a public hearing and consider amendments to Articles 3 and 8 of the Unified Development Code to address the operation of food trucks, food truck courts, and mobile vendors in the City of Keller.
Background:
The City of Keller hosts numerous events that utilize and benefit from the use of food trucks and mobile vendors. Various commercial entities also benefit from food trucks for private events. As the use of food trucks has increased not just in Keller but across the Metroplex, the desire to support their use and ensure a healthy growth for food trucks in our community has also grown. The proposed ordinance clarifies how food trucks, food truck courts, and mobile vendor units can operate in the City of Keller.
Analysis:
Staff compared ordinances for food trucks in other Metroplex cities and discussed different options with both the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council as well as with the Farmers Market and food truck vendors. Based on that feedback, staff proposes a draft ordinance that supports the growth of food trucks in the city, provides a framework of how food trucks and mobile vendors may operate that is equitable to all, and minimizes the regulatory aspects of the ordinance to health and safety concerns.
Proposed Amendments:
See Exhibit A
Summary:
Some of the more important aspects of the ordinance are the following:
1. Unless in a Food Truck Court or part of an approved Special Event Permit, food trucks are not permitted to remain parked overnight.
2. A registration fee of $50 is proposed to help offset the administrative costs related to Fire Department inspections.
3. Prohibits food trucks and mobile vending units from operating in the same location for more than 8 days per month.
4. Remove Site Plan requirement. (Inspections will confirm they are complying with applicable zoning district requirements.)
5. A minimal insurance rider must be maintained.
6. Provides a mechanism for food truck courts.
7. Provides a mechanism for food trucks to operate on City as well as private property.
Citizen Input:
An amendment to the text of the UDC requires a public hearing notice to be published in the local newspaper ten (10) days prior to the scheduled Planning and Zoning Commission meeting date and fifteen (15) days prior to the City Council Meeting Date. Notices were published in the February 25, 2022 and March 20, 2022 editions of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for the respective Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council public hearings.
Planning and Zoning Commission Recommendation:
On March 8, 2022 the Commission voted to unanimously recommend approval of this item with the additions highlighted in yellow on Staff Attachment A, relating to the definitions for “Special Event Review Team (SPERT)” and “Overnight.” (See Exhibit A for the final proposed version.)
Alternatives:
City Council has the following options when considering an amendment to the text of the UDC:
- Approve as submitted (inclusive of the Planning and Zoning Commission and staff recommended changes)
- Approve with modifications or additional amendments(s)
- Table the agenda item to a specific date with clarification of intent and purpose
- Deny