(a) Purpose. The intent of these regulations is to create an entrepreneurial opportunity for the food industry by providing creative opportunities outside of the traditional brick and mortar restaurants while controlling potential impacts such as traffic, food safety and compatibility with the surrounding areas. This City understands the importance of these start up businesses and the economic benefits they provide by creating additional foot traffic to better support surrounding businesses. These regulations have been crafted to ensure that Food Trucks/Trailers are properly integrated into the overall existing or future streetscape designs of the surrounding area. It is further the purpose of these regulations to limit the time frame for Food Trucks/Trailers to allow ample time for business incubation but also discourage them from becoming permanent fixtures.
(b) Applicability.
(1) These standards apply to all Food Trucks/Trailers that are located on private property within any Business and Employment district. Food Trucks/Trailers shall comply with the requirements of this section. Unless otherwise listed as permitted use in Table 3 of Chapter 1133, Food Trucks/Trailers shall be prohibited on private property.
(2) Food Trucks/Trailers located within the public right-of-way shall be governed by a Food Truck Right-of-Way Permit regulated by a separate section of the City's Codified Ordinances and are not subject to this Zoning Ordinance.
(3) All Food Trucks/Trailers and Food Carts shall obtain a license from the City of Circleville prior to operating within the City limits.
(c) All Food Trucks/Trailers when located on private property must comply with the following regulations:
(1) Food Trucks/Trailers shall be lit with existing and available site lighting. No additional exterior lighting shall be permitted. Lighting inside the Food Truck/Trailer for the purpose of inside food preparation and menu illumination may be permitted. There shall be no light trespass or additional glare onto adjacent properties. Flashing lights shall be prohibited.
(2) No signs shall be permitted except as follows:
A. Signs directly painted or applied directly onto the Food Truck/Trailer shall be permitted.
B. One small temporary sign that does not exceed eight (8) square feet.
(3) The selling of alcohol shall be prohibited.
(4) There shall be one (1) trash receptacle for use by patrons and placed a convenient location that does not impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Trash must be removed daily from the site.
(5) The Food Truck/Trailer shall be located on a level parking lot that is entirely paved with asphalt material, cement, cobblestone, or brick pavers in order to enhance the safety of pedestrians and patrons.
(6) There shall be ample parking, as determined by the Zoning Inspector, to serve the Food Truck/Trailer.
(7) All equipment and storage associated with and required for the operations of the Food Truck/Trailer, except for the trash receptacles required in this Section, shall be located on or within the Food Truck/Trailer. This includes any generators.
(8) There shall be no furniture, umbrellas or other objects outside of the Food Truck/Trailer. Any proposed furniture or umbrellas shall be subject to the outdoor dining standards of the applicable district in addition to these regulations.
(9) The Food Truck/Trailer shall have on-site, self contained water, sewer and electrical services (i.e. water and waste water holding tanks; generators, etc..). Such services shall be located in a manner that does not create a safety hazard to employees, patrons, or pedestrians. Connection to the City's water and sewer systems is prohibited. Water and wastewater must be disposed of daily and in accordance with local health department requirements and any other applicable governmental agency regulations. It shall be prohibited to dump waste products onto the ground or into the storm and/or sanitary sewer systems.
(10) When a Food Truck/Trailer is proposed to be located within hundred (500) feet of an existing single family dwelling unit, operations of said Food Truck/Trailer are limited to 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. The operations of Food Trucks/Trailers in all other locations shall be limited to 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Sunday - Thursday and 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
(11) There shall not be obstruction or interference with the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, including but not limited to or from any business, public building, the remainder of the parking area or adjacent public right-of-way.
(12) There shall be no restriction of the visibility area sight distance at any driveway or intersection.
(13) The Food Truck/Trailer may only operate in the location approved on the site plan for the Zoning Permit and may not be moved to any other location on the property or to a different property within the City without first receiving a new Zoning Permit. Furthermore, the Food Truck/Trailer shall be permitted to operate on any properly zoned property within the City of Circleville for three (3) consecutive calendar days within any seven (7) consecutive calendar days.
(14) Each Food Truck/Trailer shall have a minimum thirty-five by fifteen (35 X 15)-foot area. Any Food Truck/Trailer that exceeds 27 feet in length shall have a minimum seventy by fifteen (70 X 15) feet area. In no case shall the combined area of all Food Trucks/Trailers permitted on one lot exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the lot area.
(15) The applicant, if not the owner of the property, shall provide written permission from the property owner to utilize the property for a Food Truck/Trailer.
(d) Other General Development Standards. Due to the temporary nature of Food Trucks/Trailers, the General Development Standards in Chapter 1145 of this Ordinance for parking, signs and landscaping do not apply to these uses.
(e) Permit. If the Food Truck/Trailer is proposed to be located within a zoning district where such use is listed as permitted and the Food Truck/Trailer complies with all of the above standards, the Zoning Inspector shall issue a permit for said Food Truck/Trailer, provided said permit is valid for no more than three (3) consecutive calendar days within seven (7) consecutive calendar days. The Food/Truck Trailer will be limited to the location approved on the zoning permit and said Food Truck/Trailer shall be removed from the premises at the end of the permit period. Food Trucks/Trailers operating in the CS district or a City recognized event are exempt from receiving a permit.
(f) Food Push Carts. Food Push must obtain a license prior to operation. Food Push Carts may operate on private property in the GB, NB, DB, and CS Districts and within the City right-of-way.
(g) Food Tents. Food tents shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) Food tents may be erected on private property in any district for a Special Event.
(2) The property owner must obtain a Special Event/Food Tent Permit from the City prior to erecting a Small or Large Food Tent.
(3) Small Food Tents - There shall be no more than twelve (12) special events on one property within a calendar year. The Small Food Tent shall only be erected for three (3) consecutive days or less for each qualifying Special Event.
(4) Large Food Tents - There shall be no more than six (6) Special Events on one property within a calendar year. The food tent shall only be erected for seven (7) consecutive days or less for each qualifying Special Event.
(Ord. 02-13-2023. Passed 2-21-23.)