Will Food Trucks Roll Into Needham?

While there already are a few food vendors in town--such as Blue Ribbon BBQ or Dog Gone Ron's hot dog cart in Needham Center--the regulations about food trucks are still being developed.

The Board of Selectmen held an open hearing at last night's session, meeting with business owners and residents to hear their take on the drafted regulations of the food truck policy.

See the regulations on the town website, under "Hot Topics."

Food trucks have begun popping up in nearby communities, such as Boston and Brookline, and others--such as Newton--are currently considering regulations of their own. While there are food trucks operating in town, the town is still developing a set of regulations to govern that operation. 

"The town has been operating on an ad hoc basis, allowing a small number of trucks to operate," Kate Fitzgerald, town manager, explained. 

Blue Ribbon, for example, is operating in what officials are calling an "underserved" area. The goal is to have food trucks operating mainly in areas also deemed underserved--a determination which the Board of Selectmen will make when permitting food trucks. 

The proposed regulations would require food truck operators to buy a $1000 permit, which would allow them to operate five days a week, with some options for pro-rating if the space would be shared by other food trucks.  

Currently, the three areas the Board is eying for food trucks are in Needham Crossing, where Blue Ribbon is currently operating; the area of Gould Street, near Muzi Ford; and a part of Wexford Street. 

Under an existing bylaw, food trucks are already not allowed to operate within 1000 feet of a town park. Fitzgerald explained that this rule has been on the books for a long time, and was originally made with ice cream trucks in mind. The proposed regulations would also require trucks not set up within 200 feet of an existing brick-and-mortar restaurant.

These restrictions would affect at least one truck, Eric Wegner's hot dog truck, parked outside of the Mobil station on Great Plain Avenue--which is fairly close to a number of local restaurants. 

"I'm wondering if there's any room for my business with these regulations." Wegner told the board, "Because, I don't know where I'm going."

Wegner has been selling hot dogs in Needham Center for about a decade now. The board may reexamine the definition of a food truck to allow Wegner's cart to remain where it is. 

Selectman Maurice Handel explained, "it's a different scale of business. I wouldn't look at that the same way."

The proposal has also been met with some concern from local restauranteurs, such as Gari Japanese restaurant co-owner Diane Huang. 

Gari's other location is in Brookline, which approved food trucks in 2012, since then, Huang says the Coolidge Corner restaurant has lost about 10 percent of its business. 

"Being in Brookline, that's in the city," Huang added. "In Needham, we don't have that many customers to work with. I think it would really affect brick-and-mortar businesses."

Blue Ribbon BBQ is both a food truck, and a brick-and-mortar establishment with locations in Arlington and West Newton. One of the managing partners, Ron Stoloff, asked the board about the rules regarding catering--which is not currently allowed by the town's zoning policy. 

Officials said they would take his and other comments about catering into consideration, noting that they see the value of allowing it for businesses. 

Stoloff also noted, "Some consideration should be placed to the uniqueness of product served, as well as concerns of other restaurants in the area."

This was in reference to the fact that there are few places in Needham to buy foods like those served at Blue Ribbon, or even hot dogs.

However, Greg Reibman of the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce did not think uniqueness was as important a factor. 

"I encourage you to avoid thinking about the type of food served, when allowing for exceptions." Reibman said, "Food is food, and lunch is lunch."

Matthews added that the Board will hold the meeting open for a week, allowing those with comments to submit them in writing to the Board of Selectmen, either by mail or email.