Anna Maria makes way for food trucks

Some Anna Maria residents weren’t pleased with the city’s first attempt last year at a food truck ordinance.

So the city took a second swing — and may have taken inspiration from Holmes Beach’s food truck ordinance.

City commissioners held a first hearing Jan. 12 for an ordinance that would allow food trucks to operate from cooperating private properties in the city’s Commercial-1 zoning district.

The measures come in response to a state law — House Bill 1193 — passed in 2020 that preempts local governments from regulating food truck operations but allows the creation of “reasonable” space for food trucks to operate.

Last summer, the city began discussing a food truck ordinance that would have established a 20-by-90-foot area designated for up to four food trucks to operate 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays-Sundays at the northwest end of Bayfront Park, 316 N. Bay Blvd.

However, several residents attended the second hearing in August 2022 to express concern about the proposed area’s proximity to their residences and the impact food truck operations would have on them.

City commissioners responded by voting to table the measure.

The city of Holmes Beach then passed an ordinance in September 2022 allowing food trucks to operate in the city’s C-2 and C-3 zoning districts with the permission of a private property owner, with little to no public opposition.

Anna Maria clearly took a page from its sister city, as its newly proposed ordinance restricts food truck operations to a commercial zone.

The C-1 district is Anna Maria’s only purely commercial zone and is “intended to provide for the day-to-day commercial and professional office needs of residents and the seasonal population of the city, and the immediate commercial needs of the tourist population,” according to the city’s code of ordinances.

Only a handful of properties within the city are zoned C-1, including Galati Marine, 900 S. Bay Blvd., the Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., and Bayview Plaza at 523 Pine Ave., where the post office and other businesses operate.

The proposed ordinance prohibits food trucks in city rights of way and allows the city to adopt a resolution further regulating the mobile operations.

City commissioners voiced support for the proposed change.

“We’ve had one tilt at this and it was a windmill. We splintered our lance. This is a much more sensible approach,” Commissioner Robert Kingan said.

“I think it’s the only option that we have,” Commissioner Deanie Sebring said. “I certainly wouldn’t want a food truck around my home.”

There was no public comment.

The commission’s next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.

Directions to attend via Zoom can be found at cityofannamaria.com.

Driving food truck business

In 2020, the Florida Legislature preempted local governments, allowing food trucks to operate with only a state license from either the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation or the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and without the need for local permits, licensing or business tax receipts

State law defines a food truck — a mobile food dispensing vehicle — as a public food service establishment self-propelled or otherwise movable from place to place and including self-contained utilities such as gas, water, electricity and/or liquid waste disposal.