They may operate on four wheels, but many of Cayman’s food truck businesses are less mobile than they seem.
The planning department is now clamping down on these moveable feast providers by insisting that they have planning permission if they do not move on at the end of each day’s trading.
“The Authority determined that food trucks must be removed from their location at the end of every day in order to be exempt from the need for planning permission,” revealed minutes from a Central Planning Authority meeting held last month.
Food on the move
Ron Sanderson, deputy director of current planning at the Department of Planning, told the Compass that it wasn’t a new ruling, but with changes to the planning board, the board has been asked to confirm that they still wished to uphold the policy.
“We are seeing food trucks remain in the same place for four or five days, and then move on at the weekend, and then return to their original place for another four or five days,” Sanderson said.
“For a food truck not to require planning permission, it needs to be mobile and not remain in the same place overnight. If that’s the case, then it needs to have planning permission.”
Many food trucks, especially the long-established trucks, already had planning permission, he said, and the planning department was now checking to see that all food trucks across the island were complying with the rules.
One operator, who declined to be named, told the Compass, “It’s something that they’re starting to implement,” adding, “It’s very much a new thing, which we’ve only heard about recently. We already have planning permission, so it doesn’t affect us, but I’m not sure why it’s come about.”
Another operator, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said that they were currently applying for planning permission due to the change.
“It’s quite disappointing because it hasn’t been an issue until now,” they said, “and when it comes to planning, food trucks aren’t treated as a separate issue.
“We have an architect who is dealing with it for us, and he told us that it doesn’t matter whether you’re building a 10-storey building or you have a food truck, the planning process is going to be the same. But we’re totally mobile. We have our own power, our own water and we’re on wheels, so we can be moved if somebody needs to move us.”
Growing food scene
They added, “It’s a challenge because you need to have a backup space to put your truck overnight, which could be an extra cost, and the owner of the land doesn’t mind if we are here overnight or not.”
The Compass also spoke on background to an architect who has previously helped food trucks with their licensing applications for the Department of Environmental Health.
“The food truck scene in the Cayman Islands has really grown over recent years, but often what is called a food truck is actually a semi-permanent structure, and often comes with outside furniture, awnings and so on,” he said.
“It seems like the planning authorities are starting to address this by saying they can’t stay overnight anymore without planning permission.”
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We need cost efficient food offerings. Our restaurant scene is not innovative or exciting due to insane startup costs for restaurants.
Just create a difference license for these small operators and allow pop ups every once in a while. Our incumbent restaurants (some, you know who you are ****group) are lazy and offer the same products.
We can’t have just fast food, jerk and seven mile type restaurants. Just look Tampa Hyde Park or Woodward in Miami and Nassau for fish fry. Easy.
This is who YOU voted for, Cayman.
Someone is salty that other Caymanians are making a living. Increasing regulations to make it harder on them.
This is a bit ridiculous. Planning can barely deal with the work on their plates now. Leave small businesses alone.
This is just a money grab for the Government. I agree with having to have a health food inspection, but the planning board is notoriously slow and unreasonable. Food trucks provide a valuable service to the community and I appreciate the fact I can just grab my dinner at a food truck whilst on my way home. The price is much cheaper than take-out at a restaurant. I was sad to see the Yummy Yummy truck move out of Prospect; I counted on it for 1-2 meals a week.