WASHINGTON – If a number of new proposals are passed in the District, it could change where you grab a quick lunch.
In a hearing on Friday, D.C. City Council member Vincent Orange made it clear that the Restaurant Association of D.C. is not against food trucks and that the group is “just looking for something that’s reasonable, something that’s fair.”
One point of contention is that trucks be 500 feet apart from on another in 23 designated areas. One suggested change entails a lottery among food trucks for prime parking spots.
Vendor Brenda Sayles says she and others are worried about having to participate in the lottery “against people that have been encouraged to compete against the licensed vendors.”
Doug Povich with D.C.’s Food Truck Association is not a fan of any changes to food truck rules.
“It indicates you’re going to have to either move out of the city to vend you are going to go out of business,” he says.
Dubliner Restaurant owner Gavin Coleman favors the rules as “it is often hard for me to see the council give so much attention to business that are often not even based in our city as opposed to hundreds of restaurants that are based in the city,” he says.
Andrew Kline with the Restaurant Association of D.C. says they rule is needed as the trucks “interfere with visibility of other businesses.”
A final city council vote is set for June. But according to Orange, if the council was to vote on the regulations as they look today then “these regulations are not going to pass.”
WTOP’s Thomas Warren contributed to this report. Follow Thomas and WTOP on Twitter.
