Ottawa Wants To Let Food Trucks Sell In Some Parking Lots This Summer
Calling all food-truck lovers! As part of their plan to help small businesses reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is considering letting Ottawa food trucks reopen in parking lots this summer. The move, which would be the first of its kind for the capital, is being described as “ground breaking.”
As COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease-up in the National Capital Region, the City has revealed one aspect of a new plan to help eateries, bars and small businesses reopen.
On Wednesday, June 3, the Transportation Committee reportedly unanimously approved a plan to allow food trucks to operate in parking lots of municipal parks, providing they had a permit.
The move would allow food trucks to operate in parking lots at pre-approved spaces across the National Capital Region.
City staff intend to work with Ottawa Bylaw and Recreation to find the best spots for the food trucks, and they aim to be operating as early as July.
Per CTV News, Manager of Right of Way, Heritage and Urban Design, Court Curry, explained that the move is “ground breaking for Ottawa.”
“The Committee received a presentation about how the City could support economic recovery and help restaurants and retail businesses accommodate physical distancing requirements,” the city explained in an official statement.
“Staff recommend creating new outdoor retail spaces in front of storefronts and allowing food trucks to operate in parking lots at approved City parks.”
They added that staff are also “in discussions” with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario about enabling liquor licenses.
“The goal is to help our restaurant sector, who often have a mobile food truck or who may wish to have a mobile operation, to get into our city parks where we anticipate we will have a lot more residents,” Court Curry explained.
Ottawa's food trucks are usually a summer-staple in the capital region, and there's everything from ice-cream and burritos, to pizza and seafood.
The city also has big plans to bring back patio season for locals this year, despite ongoing COVID-19 concerns.
*This article's cover image is for illustrative purposes only.