People visiting Bayfront Park in Anna Maria might soon see an unusual sight in the city: food trucks.
City commissioners Aug. 11 held a hearing and first reading for an ordinance that would establish a food truck location at the northwest end of Bayfront Park, 316 N. Bay Blvd.
The measure comes in response to a state law passed in 2020, which preempts local governments from prohibiting food truck operations and allows the businesses to operate without the need for local permits, licensing or business tax receipts.
However, local governments can establish “reasonable” areas for food trucks to operate within, according to city attorney Becky Vose.
During a previous discussion on the matter, Commissioner Robert Kingan suggested locating the service area near Bayfront Park, where food trucks could serve beachgoers without making a significant impact on Pine Avenue businesses.
Mayor Dan Murphy said the area is in the city right of way at the end of the park, sharing the sandbagging setup — just outside the park, which is managed and maintained by Manatee County.
Murphy said contractors have been using the location as a staging area but they would be cleared out to accommodate the food truck plans.
He added that the location provides space for about four food trucks.
Food trucks would be allowed first-come, first-serve daily from dusk to dawn.
Food trucks at any other location would risk receiving a code violation.
Murphy said the location is ideal as it provides a waterfront venue for the businesses to operate without eliminating public parking spaces.
He said the city might consider paving or setting compacted stone to better establish the space.
Kingan suggested adding four parking markers for orderly use.
Commissioner Jonathan Crane called the matter a NIMBY — “not in my back yard” — issue but said he’d “take one for the team” since the food truck zone is near his home.
Several speakers expressed general support for the location but also aired concerns.
Holmes Beach resident Ezio Piccione said he could guarantee the owner of the nearest property, at 915 N. Shore Drive, would have an issue with generator noise from the trucks.
Resident Dave Haddox said he was concerned about the size of the entrance and questioned how food trucks would enter and exit.
Commissioner Mark Short said the city could later supplement the ordinance to tackle such issues.
Murphy said city staff would implement the commission’s suggested changes to the ordinance and send it to the city’s planning and zoning board for review before it returns to commissioners for a second hearing and potentially final approval.
The P&Z board will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
The commission will meet next at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, at city hall.
Directions to attend both meetings via Zoom can be found at cityofannamaria.com.
Apparently Anna Maria officials are not interested in the free market system. They have chosen the most hidden, out of the way area to accommodate food trucks possible. Even though the state law doesn’t allow the city to prohibit them, the city has done their best to discourage them. Why is the city afraid of allowing food trucks near existing restaurants and allowing the public to choose what they want to eat? The area only will accommodate four trucks. Why not allow them at city pier park?