Foodies on the North Shore can look forward to an exciting new eating experience as the City of North Vancouver council has approved a 12-month pilot program that will introduce more street food vendors in the area. The program is a continuation of the city’s efforts over the past three years to introduce mobile food service pilot programs during the summer months.
The 2022 edition of the pilot program saw food trucks and carts operate in 16 approved areas across North Vancouver, including three cart-approved areas on Lonsdale Avenue, Mahon Park, Ray Perrault Park, and truck and cart approval at Victoria Park. The latest pilot program will allow operators to set up shop at city-permitted events, with the inclusion of events on private property, and offer year-round application to the 16 previously designated locations. Cart and truck owners will also have the option to suggest alternate street locations.
Staff members have identified The Shipyards as the most sought-after location from owners and visitors during the 2022 pilot, and they are considering having food truck operators year-round outside of planned events. Coun. Don Bell expressed his support for the pilot program, noting that the addition of food carts will add “character and diversity” to the area and make it “more interesting” on the North Shore.
The pilot program is designed to enhance local businesses rather than compete with them. Restaurant owners are encouraged to seize the opportunity to expand their businesses, and the designated locations ensure that trucks and carts will be placed fittingly. A coffee cart, for example, would not be placed near a cafe. City councillor Girard hopes the program will also inspire local restaurants to consider mobile food services as an option, making them more transient and moving away from their brick-and-mortar confines.
All mobile food service operators will be required to have a business license. Food truck owners will pay an annual fee of $250, while smaller, self-propelled businesses like food carts or kiosks will pay $166 a year. Street use permits will cost $80 for those who want to have a cart on the sidewalk or a truck on the street.
While most councillors expressed their support for the pilot program, some raised concerns about its environmental impact. Coun. Tony Valente questioned the effect of the program on greenhouse gas emissions, noting that the generators sitting on the street beside the trucks are consuming fossil fuels and spewing them back into the atmosphere. He urged the council to consider the environmental effects of the program as it progresses. Coun. Jessica McIlroy and Mayor Linda Buchanan also expressed similar concerns, with Mayor Buchanan emphasizing the opportunity to “ask questions around decarbonizing.”
The pilot program was passed unanimously and will be in place for one year before council considers a permanent shift in policy. With the introduction of food trucks and carts, North Vancouver residents and visitors can look forward to more diverse and exciting food options while supporting local businesses. The pilot program also provides an opportunity to explore the environmental impact of mobile food services and find ways to mitigate their carbon footprint.
Citations for article research
City of North Vancouver
District of North Vancouver
Lets Talk Blog
North Shore News