Citing concerns over heavy foot traffic and Front Street congestion, the borough assembly denied Brian Schwartz’s request to rent space facing Front Street for a food truck-style seafood trailer.
Schwartz hoped to rent a small area in front of the public restrooms on the northern end of Front Street. Despite the planning and zoning commission recommending that the borough accept his request, the assembly voted 5-1 against the proposal on March 11. Phillip Mach, the newest assembly member, was the only yes vote.
“That area gets very congested, and parking is a challenge,” Assembly Member Michael Ottesen said in explaining his no vote. “I think it’s a great idea — and I’ll probably eat at it wherever it may be — but I don’t think this is the best place for it.”
The borough leases the property from Samson Tug & Barge, which owns the 7,000-square-foot parcel. Schwartz had requested to sublease from the borough a small piece of the lot for his food operation.
Besides the congestion concerns, assembly members expressed hesitancy to sublease the property and amend the lease without the property owner’s approval, which the borough had not received prior to the meeting.
Mayor Patty Gilbert appeared conflicted about the vote, but ultimately decided to vote no.
“This is a tough one,” she said, “because we are constantly promoting economic development.”
The loudest opposition to Schwartz’s request came from Vice Mayor Dave Powell, who recused himself from the assembly vote due to a conflict of interest. Powell owns the building that contains 56o North and NAPA, which is near where the food truck would be parked.
Powell said that when a previous food truck was temporarily located in that space, his tenants complained about foot traffic congestion and the loss of parking space, as food truck customers were parking in other business’s spots.
While Schwartz received some pushback about the trailer being a possible fire hazard, he was quick to extinguish those concerns.
“I do have a minor background here with the fire department and firefighting, and also with the U.S. Coast Guard as a shipboard firefighter,” he told the assembly.
His trailer is also set up to meet the California code for fire safety, something Schwartz said is a notoriously higher standard than other states. The trailer is split into two sections: one area with the barbeque grill and fryer and another section containing food prep stations and refrigerators.
There is no diesel or gasoline on board the trailer and its walls even fold up to allow complete open-air ventilation.
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