Santa Monica Food Truck Lot!

via i.imgur.com

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:06:52 -0800

Email Paul Koretz at paul.koretz@lacity.org

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:45:27 -0800

The quote in question is - “A lot of businesses in stationary, permitted locations feel it’s unfair competition, and I tend to agree with them,” Koretz said. “There have been problems with these trucks popping up in front of businesses and people’s homes. They’re less of a nuisance in one lot, but I’m not thrilled with that either. I think they work well at construction sites where it’s difficult for workers to have access to other food, but I think that should be their only place in the city.”

Let him know how you feel about the Los Angeles Food Truck Movement! CC me at matt(at)socalmfva.com

Letters to Councilman Koretz

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:40:36 -0800

Here is a great email to Councilman Koretz from Zachary Elgart, food truck customer.

Councilman Koretz,

Your unfounded and discriminatory position regarding food trucks and their place in our Los Angeles economy, and dining scene, is shocking. You should support businesses that try as hard as these people to provide a quality product at a reasonable price! In an economic climate such as ours, when spending is being cut back by everyone, it is impressive to see the demand that these establishments are able to drum up (i.e. lines around the block). I understand that some other businesses are suffering, but that is not the fault of anyone but their proprietors. When confronted with business adversity one needs to adapt. Also, food trucks encourage Los Angelenos to venture out into parts of their city that they do not usually visit. My partner and I have been consistently following trucks around Los Angeles from our home here in West L.A. and I know we are only two of the vast numbers of citizens who do the same thing to support this wonderful new industry. By travelling to other areas within Los Angeles we are getting to know our community much better and appreciate its uniqueness even more, not to mention the money we are spending in other neighborhoods while we are at it. Is it not true that in a capitalist economy and society that some businesses must suffer for others to prosper? Who are you to say which businesses deserve the right to succeed? You need to strongly re-think your stance on this issue, and try the trucks you so quickly admonish before making any more statements or decisions.

Sincerely,

Zachary Elgart

Voter from West L.A.

Dear Mr. Koretz

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:54:14 -0800

Mr. Koretz,

In response to your interview in the Park La Brea News / Beverly Press in the article titled, “Mobile Food Trucks are Eating Restaurants’ Lunch.” http://parklabreanewsbeverlypress.com/news/2010/02/mobile-food-trucks-are-eating-restaurants%E2%80%99-lunch/comment-page-1/#comment-61 .

My name is Maxson Smith, and I am the owner/operator of the TastyMeat! truck. I am writing to voice my concern over your public criticism of the burgeoning “Gourmet Food Truck” industry in the aforementioned article. To be frank, I find your comments, especially voiced as such from a respected public figure, to be rather brash and ill-informed - if not prejudiced and discriminatory.

To quote:

“A lot of businesses in stationary, permitted locations feel it’s unfair competition, and I tend to agree with them,” Koretz said. “There have been problems with these trucks popping up in front of businesses and people’s homes. They’re less of a nuisance in one lot, but I’m not thrilled with that either. I think they work well at construction sites where it’s difficult for workers to have access to other food, but I think that should be their only place in the city.”

It is my opinion that a man of elected public service serves the constituency best by listening to the will of it’s people. If, collectively, the 60-odd “gourmet” food trucks are serving 6000-10000 happy customers per day, how can one possibly believe that they have no place in Los Angeles society? Do you feel the notion of free and unrestricted trade to apply only to business owners in stationary locations? Is, in your interpretation of the law, a long established business guaranteed greater rights of trade than a newly established business? Should I not be able to make the complaint that the local “stationary” restaurants are cutting into my profits? If your answer is no, than your answer is unfairly biased according to your responsibilities as an elected government representative.

By stating that a “lot of businesses in stationary, permitted locations feel it’s unfair competition,” you are giving the people the impression that we are nothing more than a band of illicit gypsies. I am governed by the same Health Department rules and regulations as any other restaurant in Los Angeles county, and am fully permitted and allowed by state and local law to operate in the manner you feel has “no place” in my city. Further, I find it personally insulting that you would relegate the fruits of my endless labor to be “A NUISANCE,” and, at that, a nuisance fit only for construction workers. I am positive that any customer of mine would readily disagree, construction workers included. I would welcome you to come eat from my menu. If you are not wholly satisfied, and if you find your meal to be anything short of delicious and of high quality and worthwhile of repeat business, I am happy to refund you (though the situation has yet to arise for us).

I feel that your comments expose an unfair and unjust bias, most likely based on uninformed and preconceived notions. My profit margin is razor thin, as are the margins of nearly every other food truck in Los Angeles. It is time-consuming, difficult labor, plagued with unforeseen trials and tribulations. I work just as hard, and easily harder for my money than most business owners.

Every day, every week, every month, is pure struggle for myself and my young family. My definition of “unfair” is obviously on the other end of the spectrum than yours. Features like these, with negative and inflammatory comments, are unfair. They serve, unfairly, to further the will of a handful of well-connected brick-and-mortar restaurant owners, and to, unfairly, make my struggle at the American Dream just a bit more difficult.

Regards,

—

Maxson Smith

Chef/Owner

TastyMeat!

323.206.MEAT

323.206.6328

http://www.tastymeat.org

http://www.twitter.com/tastymeat

Food Truck Lot Downtown...

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:44:29 -0800

Food truck lot 2.0… Hopefully, LA will be cooler about a food truck lot. We’ve named the new lot the Traction Food Truck Lot, mostly because we’re going to have multiple lots downtown. There will be 5 trucks today, Fishlips, Barbie Q’s, Dosa, Komodo (excited to try this truck), and Kabob N’ Roll. I’ll be there all day directing traffic… Come by and say hi. For more info about the food truck industry, follow http://mattgeller.tumblr.com

Don’t forget about the LA Street Food Festival… http://www.lastreetfoodfest.com

LA Business Journal Article on Food Trucks

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:34:21 -0800

LA Business Journal Article on Food Trucks

Food Truck Fundraiser for Haiti-Tomorrow 11am-4pm

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:23:56 -0800

Food Truck Fundraiser for Haiti-Tomorrow 11am-4pm:

(via goldenhelmet)

Santa Monica City Council Meeting 1/19

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:49:00 -0800

By some miracle, we actually got on the agenda for tomorrow’s City Council meeting. Santa Monica rarely moves this fast for anything. A big thanks to everyone who emailed and/or called into express your support for the SM food truck lot! I’m sure it had a big impact.

If you would like to come show your support at the City Council meeting, please be advised that we are LAST on the agenda. I’m trying to get a couple trucks down there so we can all hang out, eat and discuss the meeting.

If you have any further questions, feel free to email me at smfoodtrucklot(at)gmail.com or matt(at)socalmfva.com

Where: City Hall Council Chambers 1685 Main Street
When: 1/19/2010 Meeting begins at 5:45pm (but we’re last on the agenda)
Agenda: http://tinyurl.com/y863xbh

Our agenda item:

13-K: Request of Councilmember Holbrook that staff study the idea of allowing food vending

trucks to occupy certain locations within the City to sell takeout food, and return with

suggestions such as text amendments and/or other possible regulations to make this a workable and legal activity.

http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2010-01-10-67510.113116_SMs_code_enforcement_leaves_lingering_bad_taste.html

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:02:41 -0800

http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2010-01-10-67510.113116_SMs_code_enforcement_leaves_lingering_bad_taste.html:

More about the SM Food Truck Lot

From the Planner

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:50:28 -0800

Date: January 7, 2010

Mayor and City Council Eileen Fogarty, Director of Planning and Community Development Food Vending Trucks

Introduction

On January 4, 2010 the City’s Code Compliance staff received a complaint regarding the use of a vacant lot at 1401 Santa Monica Boulevard for the Gourmet Food Truck Corner, a staging area for food vending trucks. The use is not permitted at the subject site which is in the C4 Highway Commercial District. The City issued a Notice of Violation to the property owner for violating the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance as well as other Municipal Code provisions related to business operations. This Information Item is intended to provide the Council with information on the specific Code violations and what actions Council may wish to take if there is a desire to identify food vending trucks as uses permitted in the Code.

Background

Food vending trucks offering a range of dining choices is a relatively new phenomenon which has spread across the Los Angeles area. In addition to the traditional food vending trucks that have served the area for years offering simple fare, the new trucksoffer a broad range of international food items in addition to gourmet hamburgers, hotdogs, sandwiches, and desserts. Typically, the vending trucks park in popular commercial areas for varying lengths of time and then travel to a new location, often communicating the new destination through Twitter and/or a business website. In Santa Monica, a City vendor permit, which has location and time restrictions, is required for the vending trucks. The Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association has recently been established to advocate for the group (http://site.socalmfva.com). There has been concern about food vending trucks from established restaurants in the areas where these trucks congregate and from organizations such as the Bayside District Corporation.

A representative of the owner of 1401 Santa Monica Boulevard contacted City staff in early December about the possibility of using the lot for a food vendor courtyard. The representative was told that the use was not permitted by Code.

Discussion

On January 5, 2010, the property owner received a Notice of Violation for violations of three sections of the Municipal Code - one section of Article VI Business, Professions and Trades and two sections of Article IX Planning and Zoning (Zoning Ordinance). With respect to the violations of Article VI, the property operator did not have a proper business license per SMMC Section 6.04.020. With respect to the violations of the Zoning Ordinance, per SMMC Section 9.04.08.22.020 food vending trucks, considered fast food uses, are not permitted at the subject site which is located in the C4 Highway Commercial District. Fast food uses, which are defined as restaurants in SMMC Section

9.04.02.030.735 are not included in SMMC Section 9.04.10.02.340 which specifically identifies the types of uses that may be permitted outside an enclosed building. Fast food uses in the district must be within an enclosed building and are subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit. Thus fast food uses that are not in an enclosed building are not permitted. The Notice of Violation was also issued for a lack of a Temporary Use Permit for the operation pursuant to SMMC Section 9.04.20.06.020(j).

If the Council wishes to permit food vending trucks at the subject site or other sites in the City, Zoning Ordinance amendments would be required. The text amendments would include identifying this activity as a conditional use that is permitted in specific zoning districts.

Prepared by: Paul Foley, Principal Planner

Let’s email this guy - paul.foley@smgov.net

Call and voice your support.

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:26:15 -0800

If you have a space 30 seconds today, please call the Santa Monica City Council at (310) 458-8201. Give your name and tell them that you support the Santa Monica Food Truck Lot!

Thanks in Advance!

Fight Another Day!

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:41:24 -0800

The Santa Monica Food Truck Lot battle wages on. With the help of our twitter followers (thank you, thank you, thank you), we’ve put pressure on the City to act fast to resolve this issue. Many of the letters highlighted the fact that there is some ambiguity in the zoning regulations (see letter below), which was our thought as well.

Today we’ve got a Land Use attorney trying to acquire a temporary special use permit from the City. I believe the continuing pressure from residents and visitors alike will ensure our success. Hopefully, we’ll be laughing about this next week, while we’re enjoying some delicious gourmet food on the lot.

Stay Tuned!

Matt Geller

Vice President
SoCal Mobile Food Vendors Association

—————————————-

Dear Santa Monica City Council:
I write to you about the Santa Monica Food Truck Lot. It was shut down yesterday afternoon due to zoning rules, specifically the catchall prohibited use provision of §9.4.08.22.050. As best I can tell, none of the permitted uses (§ 9.4.08.22.020) include the purpose the lot served, which was to serve as a gathering place for several food trucks to provide lunch and dinner options for people nearby. I expect you have received other letters discussing why the lot is a fantastic idea, so I would like to speak directly to the zoning rules.
While such a lot does not fit neatly into the current list of permitted uses, there is no reason why the Zoning Administrator could not find a food truck lot “consistent and no more disruptive or disturbing” than anything in that list. Id. at (rr). Understandably, there is concern about the foot traffic and the eyesore from food trucks and long lines associated with them. But similar large gatherings of people and/or cars are anticipated by the conditionally permitted uses for auto dealerships §9.04.08.22.040 (b), parking lots (c), Drive-in or take-out restaurants (h), nightclubs (m), and farmers markets (n). Indeed, a food truck lot is analogous to an open air farmers market, with mobile stands and spontaneous crowds.
I request that the council do two things. As a temporary measure, it ought to ask the Zoning Administrator to provide the food truck lot a conditional permit under (rr). And as a permanent measure, it ought to amend §9.04.08.22.040 to include a food truck lot, or to expand (n) to include such a lot.
Thank you for your time,Mike

Another Great Letter from a LA resident

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:20:00 -0800

City Council Members,
I was very disappointed to hear that the Santa Monica Food Lot had been shut down.

When I first heard about this amazing array of trucks congregating in Santa Monica I felt as if our city (and I mean in the larger sense: Los Angeles) had turned some little corner in an attempt to inject some community to this part of the world.
I also, being a resident of the Hollywood Hills, planned to travel to the WESTSIDE to eat there, something I never do because driving 45 minutes to do anything in Santa Monica is something I try to avoid because of the time involved.

It seems to me that uses (ee) (restaurants of 50 seats or less) and (hh) (sidewalk cafes) in the C4 zone code allow for this very thing.
The Santa Monica Foot Lot might even be protect by (bb) (Places of Worship) if the food is good enough.

As a Los Angeles resident for the past 33 years, when I think of Santa Monica I think of all the great strides you’ve made with public spaces. From the Santa Monica Pier to the 3rd Street Promenade to the bustling Farmer’s Markets you’ve consistently enriched your own city and those cities surrounding you with your smart planning and community-building initiatives. the Santa Monica Food Lot is just tailor made for what seems to be your city’s directive.

I hope that you’ll reconsider or find a way to clear up this zoning misunderstanding and allow this new addition to thrive in Santa Monica.

Sincerely,

Justine Bateman
Food Truck Eater

Tanya77.tumblr.com

A great email to the SM City Council

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:27:53 -0800

Special thanks to Alexis (@littleartwork) for her email to the city council.

Dear City Council,

I am writing to inform you of my extreme displeasure at the decision to shut down the food truck lot on 14th and Santa Monica. The so-called “zoning” problem isn’t the issue, because the C4 District specifically allows “restaurants,” which is what the food trucks are. The issue here is that you just don’t like them, and you’re looking for whatever excuse you can come up with.

The food truck lot was a brilliant idea. Not only did it transform a boring part of our city which had very limited food options into a lively, fun spot, but it allowed us to be able to find the trucks, rather than having to trek downtown or to westwood or wherever their current popular spots are (never Santa Monica, thanks to all our anti-fun decisions). They were a pain to track down! Finally, a place right nearby where we could always find them. A reliable place with constantly changing, and always delicious food. Have you even tried some of these gourmet trucks? They serve some of the best food in all of Los Angeles.

The truck lot was a great idea for Santa Monica financially, too. Being the first place where you could find many food trucks reliably, people would be coming from neighboring areas just to eat there, and then they’d continue to spend their dollars in our city. We saw its popularity on day one. The people of Santa Monica want the food trucks. It’s time for you to get over your grouchy policy on this issue, and allow it.

Thanks,

Alexis Rawlins Santa Monica Resident

Zoning responses

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:27:53 -0800

Tanya77: We got one yesterday….

Kelela: We’re fighting! Hopefully the City will see this as mutually beneficial for everyone. I can’t understand why they would rather have a vacant lot instead of a thriving business that people want.

6od: We should worship at the alter of the food truck!

writer-a: It’s not worth it to look for another lot in Santa Monica since there isn’t a zone that has “food truck lot” as an acceptable use. We’re currently looking through the regs of Los Angeles to see if they have a policy of “express permission.” Express permission in the zoning code sure stunts ingenuity. It’s like saying, “If it doesn’t exist now (when the code was written), YOU CAN’T do it ever.” I think it’s a bad policy. ALSO: A few questions since you’re the one who introduced me to tumblr, how do I respond to the notes after a post? Do I just have to create another post? And… is there an equivalent to the “@” symbol in tumblr so I can respond directly to people… Thanks again for your help.

If you want to see the food truck lot succeed drop a note to the City Council: council@smgov.net - Power (and food) to the people!

My email: is smfoodtrucklot@gmail.com

Have a good day today!

zoning

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:25:48 -0800

Santa Monica shut down the Food Truck Lot today. According to the Code Enforcement City Official, the C4 zone in which the lot resides does not list “Food Truck Lot” as an acceptable use. If the Zone does not expressly permit the activity then it is prohibited. Since there is no mention of Food Truck Lot in the zoning code we’re out of luck.

Let me know what you think on twitter!

Below are the acceptable uses.

The following uses shall be permitted in the C4 District, if conducted within an enclosed building, except where otherwise permitted:

(a) Ambulance service.

(b) Appliance repair shops.

(d) Automatic ice dispensing machine which need not be in an enclosed building.

(e) Bakeries.

(f) Banks and savings and loan institutions.

(g) Barber or beauty shops.

(h) Bowling alleys.

(i) Business colleges.

(j) Child day care centers.

(k) Cleaners.

(l) Congregate housing.

(m) Dance studios.

(n) Domestic violence shelters.

(o) Electrical shops.

(p) Electric distribution substations.

(q) Funeral parlors or mortuaries.

(r) General offices.

(s) General retail and specialized retail uses.

(t) Homeless shelters with less than fifty-five beds.

(u) Laundromats.

(v) Medical, dental and optometrist clinics and laboratories.

(w) Medical equipment rentals.

(x) Multifamily dwelling units.

(y) Public parks and playgrounds.

(z) Party equipment rentals.

(aa) Photocopy shops.

(bb) Places of worship.

(cc) Plant retail stores.

(dd) Real estate offices.

(ee) Restaurants of fifty seats or less.

(ff) Senior group housing.

(gg) Senior housing.

(hh) Sidewalk cafés not more than two hundred square feet in area, subject to the limitations contained in Section 9.04.10.02.460.

(ii) Sign painting shops.

(jj) Single-family dwelling units.

(kk) Single-room occupancy housing.

(ll) Skating rinks.

(mm) Tailors.

(nn) Trade schools.

(oo) Transitional housing.

(pp) Variety stores.

(qq) Accessory uses which are determined by the Zoning Administrator to be necessary and customarily associated with, and appropriate, incidental, and subordinate to, the principal permitted uses and which are consistent and are no more disruptive or disturbing than permitted uses.

(rr) Other uses determined by the Zoning Administrator to be similar to those listed above and which are consistent and no more disruptive or disturbing than permitted uses. (Prior code § 9020.2; amended by Ord. No. 1687CCS § 6 (part), adopted 6/22/93; Ord. No. 2192CCS § 13, adopted 7/11/06)

1/5/2010

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:57:46 -0800

Today’s line-up: FrySmith, Barbies Q, India Jones and Dainty Cakes Get your GRUB ON!!! I’m still working on getting a few more trucks! Some trucks are waiting on their Santa Monica Business License… Hope to see you there!

New tumblr account!

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:03:11 -0800

Thanks to writer-a.tumblr.com for introducing me to tumblr.