Food Trucks in Chapel Hill?

On Monday, Feb 28, the town of Chapel Hill will hold a public forum in response to Lex Alexander's petition to allow food trucks to operate on private property within town limits. Food trucks, such as Parlez-Vous Crepes and Only Burger, have a dedicated following in Durham and Carrboro, but are prohibited by zoning ordinances in Chapel Hill and Raleigh. These businesses are currently required to meet state health department regulations. At the local level, they pay for a variety of licenses, including a business license and an itinerant merchant permit. In Durham, they are required to be "tethered to a brick and mortor kitchen" and they also pay "rent" to the business whose private property they operate from (same as in Carrboro). 

Personally, I'd like to see the proposal expanded to allow them on public property in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Most of the trucks I've visited have primarily meat menus, but the pizza truck that parks outside of FullSteam Brewery on weekends has the best pizza I've ever eaten. I'd love to have them as a lunch option. And, if you have tried the pumpkin butter and dark chocolate crepe from Parlez-Vous Crepes, you've missed a wonderful treat.

So what do you think? Should these local businesses be welcomed into Chapel Hill or should they be treated as unfair competition to those restaurants who pay property taxes?

http://sogweb.sog.unc.edu/blogs/ced/?p=2584\

http://www.bullcityrising.com/2011/02/durhams-getting-a-new-incubator-this-time-round-for-food-trucks-and-foodies.html#more 

http://www.bullcityrising.com/2011/02/the-food-truck-movement-heats-up.html 

http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=6852 

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/12/03/840208/food-trucks-fight-city-parking.html 

http://www.mainstreet.com/slideshow/lifestyle/food-drink/americas-best-food-trucks

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/05/28/502067/food-trucks-offer-eclectic-dining.html