Cart Food Hot
Dec0
"We have had discussions over the years about allowing these vendors, and we have recommended against it because the cons have outweighed the pros. Right now food vendors are only allowed at special events, but at the [County Council's Infrastructure and Regulation] committee meeting recently a gentleman who wanted to have a hot dog stand spoke to the committee," said Horry County Planning Director Janet Carter. "They asked us to come up with an ordinance and present it to you before going to them with your recommendation."
Carter said some of the selling points in favor of the carts included a low overhead to operate the carts, which would make it easier in tough financial times for some people to start a business. She said they also would fit into the tourism related nature of some areas of the county. The Planning Department recommended rejection of the ordinance because of a longer list of cons when it comes to regulating and tracking the mobile businesses.
Carter said the planning department wrote an ordinance that was very specific to address some of those concerns, including only allowing the carts in commercially zoned districts. The kinds of food that would be allowed would also be regulated to include hot dogs, sausages, tacos, gyros, burritos, hamburgers, barbecue, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, chili, candy, prepackaged sandwiches, bagels, pastries, chips, biscuits, popcorn, nuts, pretzels, ice products, ice cream, milk products, frozen yogurt, and hot and cold beverages that do not contain any alcohol.
Cart owners would also have to provide a lease agreement with an existing business to set up shop on their lot and proof of compliance with fire and health regulations including inspection certificates. The carts must also have at least two parking spaces near them and not be set up within 250 feet of the entrance to any food service business that sells the food items the ordinance permits for the carts.
The permitting fee is proposed at $300 a year. There are several other specific roadway and parking lot requirements in the preliminary ordinance. Carter said the ordinance would exclude all activities covered by special event vendor permitting.
"I think this would be good in some of the more rural areas, too. It could be something that might help build up those areas," said planning commissioner Harold Phillips.
"In the rural section of the county is where we need them," added commissioner K. D. Todd.
Carter said the group could revise the ordinance however they saw fit, before passing it on with a recommendation to the County Council committee. The group will meet again at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7 to discuss the ordinance and vote on how to move it forward.