Rocky Mount Today

The Tarboro council approved a new Unified Development Ordinance and Zoning Map that raised the question if food trucks are as essential as restaurants. 

Catherine Grimm, who is the town's planning director revealed that the new mandate was a modernization of the current record that targeted the majority of the document and made it less professional, the Rocky Mount Telegram reported on June 15. However, it was a specific section of the ordinance that mentions food truck vendors that caused the debate.

“It’s hard to be proactive for downtown restaurants, who are already struggling when we allow these trucks who have little expense to come in,” Councilman C.B. Brown said, the Rocky Mount Telegram reported. 

The regulation allows food truck vendor permit to remain active for 90 days, the Rocky Mount Telegram reported. However, Brown took issue with these mobile eateries staying in one location for several days, which he suggested can take customers from traditional brick-and-mortar establishments. 

Grimm, however, said that food truck vendors are scraping by just like the local restaurants.

“They have a lot invested and generally are scraping by to make it,” Grimm said, the Rocky Mount Telegram reported.

Mayor Joe Pitt, who has food trucks visiting his businesses, believes that the eateries provide more customers to his business. 

“I’ve probably got more food truck business than anybody in Tarboro,” the Mayor said, the Rocky Mount Telegram reported. “I like food trucks. I use them at my business to draw traffic, and I probably have the best location for food trucks in town. I have standards and guidelines for them and I pay attention to them. People who come to buy from those food trucks come in my store. It’s very positive for my business.”