Tarpon Springs gives green light to food trucks at Sponge Docks, downtown

TARPON SPRINGS — After much debate, city commissioners unanimously approved allowing food trucks at the Sponge Docks and downtown, with special conditions that will be revisited in six months.

City manager Charles Rudd on March 25 told commissioners that many rules were waived following the hurricanes.

“We looked at the food truck ordinance and we knew there was some concern about local businesses, so we came up with something we think is a compromise where trucks could only be invited by a brick-and-mortar business … that could meet a list of requirements.”

Requirements include not violating parking rules and not using generators — the truck either has to use batteries or be hooked up to the business.

Planning director Renea Vincent reminded the commission that in 2020 the state preempted local governments from prohibiting food trucks.

She added that staff revised the ordinance to address Planning Board concerns, such as:

• Allowing up to two trucks between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., but only during the operating hours of a business.
• A food truck must be operated only using a battery or electrical service.
• The truck must be an accessory to a primary use and cannot be set up on vacant or improved land that does not have restroom facilities.

Mayor Panagiotis Koulias said, “A lot of these restaurant owners have great concern about the floodgates opening.” If all the possible locations permitted applied for a food truck, “it would be pretty unsightly for our community. But at the same time, a lot of these properties would really have to improve their properties tremendously to be able to put at least just one food truck on their property.”

Public comments centered around restaurant owners opposing food trucks and their customers using the eatery’s restroom facilities or filling waste bins. However, many patrons of Mele’s Donuts, both in person and through 71 emails, spoke in support of allowing her popular loukoumades food truck at the Sponge Docks.

Commissioner David Bather noted the proposed ordinance is restrictive, allowing only two or three spaces to invite food trucks.

He added he would go along with this “limited approach” but “no one leaves tonight winning.”

Koulias said the ordinance could be looked at again in six or nine months to see how it goes.

“We have to reassure these property owners and these landowners … we’re not going to let things get out of hand,” he said. “If we do see it get out of hand, we know how to protect the docks.”

Vice Mayor John Koulianos pointed out there are benefits to food trucks.

“We want to help the breweries. Allowing them to have food trucks is helpful for their business survival on Pinellas Avenue,” he said, adding the ordinance has been drafted to have “a minimal impact on the Sponge Docks.”

Vincent brought up an “obvious point from listening to all of the comments and the number of people that signed the petition: Right now, it doesn’t sound like there’s a whole lot of property owners down at the docks that’s going to host anybody.”

Commissioner Michael Eisner said, “If you have three or four people, you’re going to have a lot.”