NEWS

New laws, but no food trucks here

An operator who promised to bring his food truck to Yonge and Eglinton under loosened restrictions says we’re unlikely to see trucks there any time soon, in spite of new laws that came into effect May 15.

A provision in the regulations agreed to April 3 by city council requiring food trucks to operate at least 50 metres from open restaurants will prevent them from setting up shop on the busy corner, says Zane Caplansky.

The new laws allow two food trucks per block to set up for a maximum three hours a day, providing they do so at least 50 metres from open brick-and-mortar restaurants.

Citing “very few places” other than in parking lots that satisfy the 50-metre rule at Yonge and Eglinton, Caplansky said at the time he intended to forgo the $5,067 licence fee that would allow him to park his food truck on sidewalks.

He would set up in parking lots instead, he said.

But in speaking with the Town Crier in late May, both Caplansky and Ward 22 councillor Josh Matlow, who first championed food trucks at Yonge and Eglinton, said they were unable to identify any appropriate locations in the area.

For his part, Matlow said he remains “open and willing” to collaborate with operators such as Caplansky in finding whatever locations do exist, and looks forward to the city re-examining its policy next year.