DEARBORN, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — Dearborn’s food trucks have just a few months left before the city pulls the plug on their usual parking spots.
“Not a popular decision.”
New rules taking effect Sept. 1 ban trucks from operating in private business parking lots and restrict them from both of the city’s downtown business districts. City Council passed the measure in April following two years of debate.
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“I know for certain this was not a popular decision with the food truck operators,” Councilman Robert Abraham said. “I think it was very popular with the residents that live adjacent to these locations where these food trucks are operating.”
Food truck parks.
Dearborn currently has 30 licensed food trucks, according to The Detroit News. Under the new ordinance, trucks can operate only in designated “food truck parks” located in business or light industrial zones. Additionally, the parks must offer permanent bathrooms, trash stations, seating, and electrical hookups—no more noisy generators or propane tanks near gas pumps.
“This is such a new type of business model for our community that people are looking at it like it’s an attack on trucks,” Hassan Chami, who owns The Terry Melt and co-owns The Canteen food truck court, said. “(But) no, we were just operating in a way that no business has ever operated before.”
City officials cited complaints about grease dumping, generator noise, and power cords stretching across sidewalks.
“We’re trying to do the right thing, and that’s why it took this long,” Council President Michael Sareini said.
Could new rules drive out vendors?
Some operators worry the rules could wipe them out.
“Let’s say within 70 days, we comply with the current ordinance that’s being written, but 70 days later you guys change something, and we are violating the ordinance? How can we be protected from that?” Abdula Alnasiry, owner of The Burger Truck, said during the April 22 meeting.
Other business owners backed the change.
“If you’re acting like a brick-and-mortar, you should follow the rules like brick-and-mortars do,” Weesam Ali, who owns The Chicken Coupe and manages concessions on Belle Isle, said.