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Proposed food truck ordinance stalls in Mt. Lebanon

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 3 min read
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A proposed ordinance regarding food trucks drew a lukewarm reception from Mt. Lebanon Commissioners.

Ian McMeans, municipal planner and assistant manager, presented the first draft of the ordinance during Tuesday’s commission discussion session.

“The purpose of this really is to try and give some definition and structure to something we’re seeing a lot more of in the community,” he said, as well as “to protect our existing brick-and-mortar restaurant stores” from competition.

Under the measure, mobile food vendors would be required to apply for permits, good for one year and subject to various criteria, mostly safety-related.

Three out of the five commissioners, though, categorically rejected the idea.

“I just don’t see the problem we’re trying to solve here,” Mindy Ranney, commission president, said. “Personally, I’d like to see more food trucks in Mt. Lebanon. At least compared with the North Hills, there aren’t that many food trucks, and in my non-expert opinion, it’s a great way for neighbors to socialize that’s safe.”

She noted the operation of food trucks as “a lifeline to restaurants that are faced with unprecedented challenges because of COVID.”

“So I’m not interested in adding and hindrances or any hurdles right now, at least, with the COVID situation still being what it is and with our restaurants trying to recover,” she said.

Commissioners Leeann Foster and Craig Grella agreed with Ranney.

“Even if it’s just complaints on the back end and dealing with that on a case-by-case basis, I’d rather see something along those lines than to prohibit them,” Grella said about food trucks and issue that may arise because of their presence.

The vendors have become popular in his neighborhood.

“Over the last eight weeks or so, we’ve had food trucks in the Fourth Ward, and the response has been completely positive,” he said.

In the view of Commissioner Andrew Flynn, though, regulations “that provide a healthy and safe environment are important.”

“I think that this ordinance makes perfect sense. I’m happy to approach different aspects of it and find more solutions to how we do this,” he said. “Providing some mechanism for mobile food vendors to properly engage in the community is a good thing. Without some framework, it can spiral.”

Commissioner Steve Silverman agreed about the need at some point to add structure to the way food trucks operate in Mt. Lebanon.

“Maybe this isn’t the time to go live with it, because we’re still pulling out of the pandemic,” he said.

Ranney said she would be open to revisiting the issue in 2022.

“I think if we get some more data and more food trucks to the area, then we’ll really be able to hone in on what the issues are, what we’re experiencing,” Ranney said.

She contended much of the language of the proposed ordinance already is covered in other parts of the municipal code.

We already have an overnight parking ordinance. You already can’t park on the curb,” she said. “And if they’re blocking traffic, then we deal with it like we do with a moving truck or anything else that’s blocking traffic.”

Regarding the potential for municipal liability, solicitor Phil Weis again cited safety considerations.

“Food trucks are wide. Some of our streets are not,” he said. “That is one of the areas in which the government can be held liable, is for hazardous conditions on your street.”

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