Newport City Council working to revise restrictions in new food truck ordinance

Because of a state law passed in 2018 to deregulate the process for entrepreneurs to open mobile food establishments, or food trucks, municipalities are now updating their own ordinances on the matter to reflect the new legislation.

But the ordinance passed at last week’s Newport City Council meeting would restrict food trucks and carts to only one area of Newport where some residents say there is no foot traffic, and limit them to only one hour of business a day – no parks, no sidewalks, and not within 500 feet of a restaurant.

“Certain limitations that were placed in the ordinance would have the constructive effects of banning food trucks in Newport,” said Senator Dawn Euer, who worked on the state legislation to cut the red tape in the food truck permitting process.

Three high schools students, who have been operating their business, the Viking Hot Dog food cart in Washington Park and Rejects Beach, say this ordinance would effectively shut them down.

“A lot of people don’t want to go downtown and get food just because it’s so busy, especially in the summer,” said owner Will Farley. “If there’s something down the street, you can walk down the street to a food cart or a food truck. It would just make it easier for people and residents of Newport.”

At a workshop meeting Wednesday night, some councilors agreed that the businesses should be allowed to park for more than one hour.

They also discussed that there should be certain areas where food trucks and carts are allowed, and not base it off of how the area is zoned.

“I think what we really ought to do is just say, ‘No, in this specific location, you are allowed to have an MFE, [mobile food establishment],” said Mayor Jamie Bova.

Others are concerned that taking off some restrictions would set a dangerous precedent and take away from the history of the city.

“I think that this changes the character of the neighborhood if you’re going to allow a lot of food trucks,” said Councilor Kate Leonard.

Mayor Bova said they will continue to work on the ordinance and discuss it further at next week’s city council meeting.

“It really depends on whether or not we as a council can come to an agreement that we think serves the public but also serves the businesses,” said Bova.

The owners of Viking Hot Dog say they are hopeful things will change for the better.

An online petition to allow food trucks in Newport that was started on Tuesday has already garnered more than 900 signatures.

©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2019