The Charlottesville planning commission re-wrote an ordinance, viewed in January, that could change where the popular food trucks could do business in Charlottesville.

The ordinance would allow food trucks to park in residential areas with a special permit. Trucks would be allowed to operate within 100 ft. of a home.

The food trucks must also be at least 30 feet away from restaurants. One local food truck owner spoke about the affect of the ordinance.

“It will open up the possibility that food trucks like ourselves will be able to vend on private lots with the permission of property owners,” says Mouth Wide Open owner Justin Wert. “That would give us an opportunity to vend downtown without having to worry about two hour parking, so that would be a big assistance to us.”

The city of Charlottesville and the Virginia Health Department will issue those permits for parking in residential areas.

The ordinance is supposed to go in front of city council later in the spring.

http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Food-Truck-Could-Set-Up-Shop-Near-Residences-If-New-Ordinance-Passes-198043361.html

A customer waits for his order at the La Michoacana truck outside Champion Brewing

Mobile food trucks in Charlottesville edged one step closer to reality after a Planning Commission vote Tuesday.

A customer waits for his order at the La Michoacana truck outside Champion Brewing

Charlottesville officials are seeking ways to amend the city’s code to support a new trend in casual dining.

http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/13819-food-trucks/

Charlottesville is looking at making additions to its zoning ordinance to accommodate the growing market of mobile food trucks.

At Monday night’s city council meeting, zoning administrators will initiate a study to determine where mobile food units are allowed in the city.  The purpose of having the mobile food unit ordinance is to provide guidelines on where food trucks can park on public and private properties across the city.

Jim Tolbert, director of the Charlottesville’s Department of Neighborhood Development Services, said, “Technically, we don’t have anywhere where they’re allowed on private property. We’re also coming back with an ordinance that would regulate where they’re allowed to park on the street.”

Neighborhood development staff wanted to address the issue now because the city has received a number of calls from prospective food truck owners.

http://www.nbc29.com/story/20363982/city-council-to-consider-zoning-ordinance-for-mobile-food-trucks

With Newcomb Hall undergoing an $18 million renovation, UVA Dining Services came up with a student meal solution that falls decidedly outside of the lunchbox. Beginning this fall, on weekdays from 11am to 2pm, six trucks with names like Steak Me Home Tonight, Got Dumplings? and Nacho Panda—park around the UVA Amphitheater to offer students a variety of foods, from Asian-style dumplings to homemade doughnuts.

“We looked at other ways of building capacity at lunch time when we need to feed so many students,” said Brent Beringer, UVA Dining Services director.  “It seemed to be a good fit, and it was something that we wanted to try anyway.”

Beringer said food trucks have become familiar thanks to heavy media coverage—take, for instance, “The Great Food Truck Race.” Beringer said UVA could have installed a temporary facility to deal with the Newcomb renovation, but instead opted to offer meals on wheels.

“It’s just on the forefront,” he said. “It’s new, it’s exciting and it feels fresh to students.”

Judging by the scene on a recent afternoon, the students like their options. About 25 people stood in line for a taste of the popular Got Dumplings? menu—chicken curry pork or shrimp and chives dumplings. Sophomore Nicholas Williams, who ordered a Korean BBQ quesadilla, said having food trucks is not only “innovative” and “convenient,” but also a lesson in personal finance.

“It teaches [students] to balance their money and it gives them a different feel of food,” he said. Sophomore and food truck newbie Britton Vermaaten, who settled on a BBQ hot dog and a Dr. Pepper from Steak Me Home Tonight, said the trucks “add a lot of diversity to the food choices” at UVA and “they are pretty well priced.”

If the options give UVA students a bit more convenience, they pose a new challenge to the cooks. Joseph Mills, owner of Last Call Dogs and co-owner of Nacho Panda, said his team has had to refocus its strategy to offer quicker, more efficient service.

Paying for food truck meals has also gotten quicker. Beringer said all trucks are now part of the University Meal Plan, and accept “Plus Dollars,” which students can use for University meal options outside of the dining halls. “That’s a benefit to [the food trucks], and in return they pay a commission to the University,” said Beringer.

Although Beringer said vendor agreements would not allow him to share financial information, he said sales have already exceeded expectations in just a few weeks.

“There are lines out there every day.”

Mills, who opened Last Call Dogs in 2008, said he is interested in expanding and bringing in more diverse food choices. “We are excited to be on the leading edge of it, and we look forward to getting bigger and better in the future,” he said.

As for the future of food trucks at UVA, Beringer said it will depend on whether students still find them exciting a year from now, and whether this “kind of commercial activity that happens so close to the Lawn,” fits the school’s long-term vision. However, Beringer said additional local vendors have expressed interest in joining the program.

http://www.c-ville.com/Article/UVA/Outside_the_lunchbox/?z_Issue_ID=11101909114268292