WORCESTER, MA – A City Council committee looking to create a more friendly environment for food truck vendors has broached the idea of establishing areas in the city where they would be allowed to conduct business by right.

The focus would be in the downtown, especially around Worcester Common, but it would also include other neighborhoods and parks.

As part of the idea being bandied about by the City Council Economic Development Committee, food truck operators would be required to pay a fee and be permitted by the city for the right to operate in those designated areas.

Councilor-at-Large Frederick C. Rushton, committee chairman, said Tuesday he would like to see the reintroduction of food trucks in the city on a “more populated scale” because they can bring greater economic vitality to an area.

He said current city regulations governing food truck operators make that difficult, in large part because they are required to get the permission from abutters within 50 feet of where they want to set up shop, and from restaurant owners within 250 feet.

“We have to get beyond the mobile food truck (owners) having to knock on doors hoping they’re going to find a friendly zone,” Mr. Rushton said. “Instead, we should move to establish some friendly zones throughout the city (where permission would not be needed).”

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