PENSACOLA, FL – Mobile food trucks could be allowed within Pensacola city limits, including in downtown, as early as August.

The trucks would still be banned from operating on Palafox Street between Garden and Main streets, or anywhere within 200 feet of a brick and mortar restaurant unless the restaurant were to allow it.

Substantial changes made to already proposed rules Tuesday included striking language that would have restricted hours of operation, numbers of days a week a food truck could operate in the same location and the maximum number of food trucks allowed. Also struck was language that would have required a separate permit any time two or more food trucks wanted to operate in the same area.

The planning board on Tuesday made heavy edits to a draft ordinance proposed by city council member Charles Bare and directed city staffers to prepare the final version for review and possible approval next month. If approved by the planning board, the new rules could go before city council at their August meeting for a final vote, potentially opening the way for food trucks in city limits.

With those requirements struck, the most restricting rule on the trucks may turn out to be one that will require that employees have access to a flushable toilet within 150 feet should a truck wish to operate longer than three hours. That will likely mean making arrangements with businesses, some of which don’t want food trucks around in the first place.

Find the entire article at pnj.com