Oakmont restaurant owners speak up against food truck ordinance

A proposed ordinance meant to regulate food trucks in Oakmont, while not encouraging their use, could have a negative impact on borough restaurants.

The operation of food trucks not affiliated with borough restaurants is what brought about the proposed ordinance. Borough Manager Scot Fodi said Oakmont officials have been contacted by businesses that don’t serve food and want to hire food trucks for special events.

“Right now, we have no regulations for them,” Fodi said.

The ordinance was created to create guidelines, such as truck parking restrictions, where business can be conducted and requirements to secure a permit.

Oakmont Council was presented with various arguments against the proposed ordinance.

Dan and Linda McCurdy, owners of Oakmont Deli, spoke against the proposed ordinance at a recent council meeting.

Dan McCurdy said an influx of food trucks, and the extra customers they attract, may add to the parking issues the borough already battles.

“On the nights now where they have night markets and everything, I don’t even open,” McCurdy said. “There’s so many food trucks, it’s not worth it to me anymore.”

He said local businesses that are open regularly are more likely to donate to local organizations than food trucks that are just passing through.

“The food trucks aren’t going to sponsor anything — the Garden Club, the Women’s Club — I donate to every club that walks in the door,” McCurdy said.

The ordinance would permit trucks to operate in all zoning districts, but a permit would have to be obtained from the borough, either by the truck’s owner or the person hosting the truck.

The permit would allow for 12 hours of operation, and trucks could be in commercial and industrial zoning districts from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Trucks would be able to operate in residential districts between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Police Chief Michael Ford said the ordinance would give the borough, as well as police officers, more control over what food trucks can and can’t do while in Oakmont.

Thomas Breth, an attorney representing Oakmont resident and restaurant owner John Keefe, urged council to speak with local business owners before passing the ordinance.

“You want to support the businesses in Oakmont, the people that pay your taxes, that hire people that reside in Oakmont, that are outstanding members of your community,” Breth said.

He said there should be a distinction made between “outside food trucks” and ones affiliated with Oakmont businesses.

“You don’t want a food truck from Butler, Pennsylvania, coming down here and parking down here,” Breth said. “There should be a distinction between Oakmont-owned food trucks that are operating in conjunction with an Oakmont business versus outsiders that come in.”

Council member John Arnold agreed with Breth’s proposal. He said there would be problems if a lot of food trucks were to come in from other communities. It “robs business” from local businesses and aggravates the “overall parking problem,” he said.

“I don’t think we should allow food trucks from businesses outside the borough to come in other than at the night markets and those special events,” Arnold said.

Borough solicitor Jacob Leyland, said council can continue to work on the language of the ordinance.

Council voted to advertise the proposed ordinance in a 5-1-1 vote with Arnold voting no and Deb Ormay abstaining. Advertising the ordinance leaves time to continue discussing requirements, wording and public concern.