By ELENA MARSH
Staff Writer
With new language governing food truck campuses in the county, the way is paved for a potential food truck pavilion in the Seven Lakes business district.
Coordinated “rodeos” of food trucks gathered on a particular parcel have become an increasingly popular option in communities. The Moore county planning department has received inquiries from individuals wishing to develop and operate a campus consisting of several food trucks, similar to Red’s Corner in Southern Pines.
In particular, county officials said, there has been recent interest in bringing a food truck pavilion to the Seven Lakes business district. Without a change to language within the county’s development regulations and guidelines, an application could not be received. Now, the county can regulate future developments of mobile food campuses.
While no developer has come forward to apply for this use in Seven Lakes yet, there is a potential that a food truck pavilion could come before the board for consideration in the future.
“The Seven Lakes area could use some additional places to eat,” said Chairman Nick Picerno, whose district includes Seven Lakes and who lives just west of Seven Lakes. “That was one of the drivers for putting sewer in that area. Everything would be in the details, but anything in that area would be great.”
The approved text amendment defines “mobile food campuses” as the sale of food and beverages by multiple individual mobile food vendors on a single parcel of land that provides shared parking, outdoor dining areas, waste receptacles and restrooms.
Guidelines state that the campus may have no more than 15 vendors and shall include one or more shared outdoor dining or seating areas that are compliant with ADA standards.
Other requirements include restroom facilities, plumbing and electrical that is in accordance with code, adequate parking for vendors and guests and proper lighting.
In the county’s governing document on land use, there was no reference to “mobile food campuses,” so there existed no process to regulate the placement of campuses designed for food trucks.
Contact Elena Marsh at (910) 693-2484 or elena@thepilot.com.
