Lebanon to hold public hearing on proposed food truck regulations

By CLARE SHANAHAN

Valley News Staff Writer

Published: 01-05-2025 6:01 PM

LEBANON — The city is getting closer to drawing up regulations on where, when and how many food trucks can operate in the community.

The Lebanon Food Truck Task Force, which was formed in July, is recommending changes to a city ordinance and zoning code that would limit the number of food trucks allowed around Colburn Park in the summer while opening up two new seasonal vending areas. The plan calls for two additional downtown spaces each near Lucky’s Coffee Garage and behind City Hall in the Taylor Street parking lot.

The proposed changes would also require food truck owners to make the parking spaces occupied by their mobile eateries available to the public when they are not open for business. Other proposed changes include the city’s streamlining the food truck permit application process and allowing vending operations on private property year-round.

Residents can offer input on the proposed changes at a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

A four-member committee consisting of City Councilor Clifton Below and three residents, with help from city staff, prepared the draft recommendations. The City Council has final say on the amendments.

Through their recommendations, the task force tried to find a “balance” between businesses’ needs and residents’ concerns, said Falguni Mehta, who is the co-chair of the task force.

Concerns from residents included parking and traffic issues, safety concerns, noise pollution and changing the use of one of the city’s only public parks, said Mehta, who also owns the Lebanon restaurant Turmeric Kitchen and an associated food truck.

“This is a public space, and we have to listen to the public,” Mehta said.

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Currently, the city manager can issue permits, which cost $200 each, for up to four food trucks to run seasonally around Colburn Park. The four vending areas are located in parking spaces on South Park Street near the Upper Valley Music Center.

Under the new recommended regulations, only two food trucks would be allowed on South Park Street on one end of the street, nearest to the Lebanon Post Office.

While Lucky’s Coffee Garage is already a popular business with limited parking, the task force opted to include the location because it is the only area with access to electricity, eliminating noise from generators which was a concern of some residents, Mehta said.

Food trucks can be economic drivers, City Manager Shaun Mulholland said. The mobile operations can serve as a “business incubator” because they are less expensive than brick-and-mortar restaurants and allow prospective restaurant operators to get started in food service before moving into a permanent location.

A frequent issue during last summer’s food truck season was that the city reserved parking spaces for the trucks that did not always show up, Mulholland said. Under the proposed regulations, food truck operators are responsible for ensuring their spaces are reserved when they need them and otherwise available to the public.

The logistics around this plan and other elements still need to be “ironed out,” Mehta said.

In addition to the changes to public vending in the city, the task force also prepared recommended changes to the city zoning code that allow for food truck vending on private property with a city permit.

It will help with “streamlining” the application process for food truck permits on both private and public property, Mulholland said.

Under the proposed regulations, landowners could host food trucks on private property, such as shopping plazas, throughout the year. The trucks wouldn’t need an additional operating permit from the city.

After Tuesday’s public hearing, the task force will review the feedback from residents before presenting its final recommendations to the City Council in February.

Clare Shanahan can be reached at cshanahan@vnews.com or 603-727-3216.