Town to hold public hearing on food trucks Monday, Nov. 14

Hillsborough leaders want to hear the public’s thoughts on allowing mobile food vendors in the town limits.
The Hillsborough town board will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, in the Town Barn as part of its regular monthly meeting. The board is considering a proposal that would create a permit process for mobile vendors who want to set up a fixed location or route in town.
The proposed ordinance makes no change to how mobile vendors are allowed at special events like Hog Day or Last Fridays, and the hearing is not required for the ordinance to be enacted.
Under the draft ordinance, the town could issue up to 10 active food vendor permits at any given time, with qualified applicants receiving permits on a first-come, first-served basis. Vendors would be allowed to operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on private property with written permission from the property owners. The property would have to be zoned for nonresidential uses and could not be located in the historic overlay zoning district—from the Eno River north to Corbin Street; from Nash Street east to Cameron Street; and from east of Cameron Street to the town limits in the area north of St. Mary’s Road.
Vendors would serve walk-up customers only and would not provide customer seating. Only one vendor at a time per parcel would be allowed unless vendors were participating in a special event that was separately permitted under event provisions.
“The Town of Hillsborough recognizes that the diversity of prepared food options can be enhanced by allowing mobile food vendors to serve prepared food within the city limits,” the draft ordinance states. “The Town further recognizes that mobile food vendors have the same responsibilities to their customers and the community as do food service establishments with fixed locations and should be required to abide by local permit and tax requirements in the same manner as facilities with fixed locations.”
The draft ordinance may be viewed here. The Town Barn is located on the Town Hall campus, 101 E. Orange St. Parking is accessed from E. Corbin Street.