Agenda - Planning Commission - 08/04/2016

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0 A food truck park in a large parking area. .d14.1111q lot aUm Acorner salon in a - residential neighborhood. environment has seen the proliferation of small local breweries and distilleries that incorporate a tasting room, bar, or restaurant to showcase their products. In commercial areas, where bars are allowed, these types of facilities should be permitted. On a related note, ordinances may also want to distinguish microbreweries and mi- crodistilleries, which are larger -scale opera- tions that produce and package beverages for wholesale distribution, usually defined by a threshold of capacity (barrels or gallons per year) so that they can be distinguished from a traditional industrial use. Because they are not a large-scale industrial use, these can be permitted in select commercial areas that allow more intense uses, rather than being restricted to industrial districts only. Food truck parks. Food trucks provide a chance for chefs to hone their craft without having to invest in a permanent location. Suc- cessful food trucks may eventually become brick -and -mortar restaurants and help build up the small business environment. A food truck park as a principal use creates a space where a group of food truck vendors can offer food or beverages to the public as the primary use of the property, which may include seating areas, on a more permanent basis. This is something that works well in commercial areas, especially where there are vacant lots or underused parking lots. Food trucks don't require a lot of space, and basic use standards in the ordi- nance can control the impacts such as hours of operation, controlling litter and food waste, and public safety concerns in terms of water and electric hook-up and health department licensing. The Corner Store In some municipalities, especially older cit- ies, commercial uses are often integrated into residential neighborhoods, and because they are in residential zoning districts, they are non - conformities. Their status as a nonconformity hurts these uses in two ways. While existing neighborhood commercial uses are legally nonconforming uses, business owners typically cannot reestablish a commercial use in the structure by right after a period of vacancy. In addition, many corner stores are constructed as nonresidential buildings in a residential district. Therefore they are often nonconform- ing structures as well. Because these uses are already there and often avalued part of the neighborhood fabric, ZONINGPRACTICE 7.16 AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION I page 4