This revolution evolved from Youth Are Awesome’s inaugural food truck post to now the array of high-quality reviews that are proudly produced for our blog website. (This includes our YouthAreEating Youtube channel too!)
Eat St. of the Food Network fame has heard this trend’s reputation and came to Calgary to capture this sensation.
The range of options have expanded to this wonderful repository.
Accounting for my Twitter bias, it’s amazing to have @yycfoodtrucks (and also yycfoodtrucks.com) at our service to inform us the best spots to chase those eats down.
And so those are the reasons why this period between May 29th and June 14th is a crucial one for the cultural phenomenon that is the “full service food vehicles” initiative as City Hall calls it.
Fast forward to roughly a month after June 14th and the City’s Development and Building Approvals, Compliance Services will have shaped this bylaw that will serve to transition this initiative to a permanent fixture. A drafted report will be submitted to the Committee on Planning and Urban Development on July 17th, in which legislation will be further shaped. Oh July 29th, City Council will consider the bylaw.
It is with public input in mind that we Calgarians can chime in on our opinions and comments regarding this bylaw through this consultation period that is happening now.
Here’s just a selection of the rules that are to be written in the bylaw as this project transitions to a “Business License Framework”:
- Restrictions on the locations these food trucks are able to operate in will continue to be imposed. They are not allowed to park and operate in certain areas in some of Calgary’s revitalization districts shown in this detailed map.
- Food trucks are and will continue to be bestowed with the freedom to locate on other non-residential streets, festivals, and on private property with permission where needed.
- You will see food trucks increasing their footprint and welcoming customers in these parks as the Parks department is offering new operating opportunities; Metro has laid out some of the details.
- The Calgary Herald reports while the City is currently maintaining a license cap of 43 food trucks, the cap will be abolished if this bylaw is approved.
- Only two food trucks may be parked in the same block at a time except when they are participating in local festivals.
- In the feedback survey, there is a specific question about your opinion on whether more reserved parking should be implemented for food trucks similar to the one near City Hall.
- Food trucks are proposed to continue to be only allowed to set up no less than 25 meters away from restaurants unless they give permission for exemptions. They are also only allowed to be at least 100 meters away from schools and other parks that are not a part of the list provided above. The survey also contains a question related to this restriction where you can send your comments in; these regulations are currently a part of the current pilot project’s guidelines.
The bylaw proposal can be read in its entirety on the consultation form (pdf) that has been provided to voice your opinions. In addition to that option, an online feedback form is also available on calgary.ca’s food truck update page. This feedback period will end at 4:30PM on June 14th.
I’m still learning the chops of reviewing food trucks; this new development, in my personal opinion, is of utmost significance to the future of these lovely options that spruces up the streets. To sustain the current food truck culture is pivotal, but to build on the success is the key focus as a result of engaging more of your voices.
If you enjoy any of the amazing contributions of our other bloggers on the delicious food, do me a favor in informing the City of your take, and feel free of course to shoot me a comment about it too (but only after you’ve told the important guys!).
Finally, if you still aren’t convinced to take a look at the survey, here’s an video that showcases the livelihood of this year’s Calgary Street Food Festival –
(It better have convinced you!)