Keep food trucks away, says BIA
Monday night’s Council meeting featured a solid show of support by Creemore business owners who stood firmly against the possibility of allowing mobile food vendors into the village.
Thirteen people from the Creemore Business Improvement Area (BIA) stood up from their chairs as three of their members presented reasons why the presence of casual, part-time vendors will negatively affect their businesses.
The group assembled two weeks after Clearview held a Public Meeting on draft amendments to its zoning by-law, to allow the sales in accordance with the Township’s draft licensing by-law.
Although a Public Meeting was held on May 12, no members of the public attended or spoke at that time.
The new licensing by-law would require vendors to specify the time and location of their sales, undergo basic health and safety procedures, and protect the municipality from liabilities.
But Norma Panzine, who has owned and operated Affairs Café for 11 years, said the proposed amendment would create “unfair competition” and “drain away resources” in Creemore.
She said the village’s business owners work too hard year-round to allow others to reap the benefits during the peak season from May to November.
“[The amendment] is not pro local business,” she emphasized. “It lets outsiders who are not paying taxes to directly impact full-time small businesses. We are the engine that drives the economy of Ontario and of Clearview.”
Panzine also expressed concern that Creemore’s small marketplace could not support the addition of food trucks to the existing restaurants and stores where visitors and residents currently buy food.
She added that because casual vendors do not provide washrooms or seating, local taxpaying business owners will be forced to absorb the need for these.
“This works against our efforts to maintain and grow our businesses,” she said. “Community efforts will be diluted by suppliers with no community roots.”
BIA members support the whole community, Panzine reminded Council. They are not here simply to make a buck. Local businesses pay taxes toward beautification projects in Creemore, such as garbage management and plants, she said.
After hearing from the BIA, Councillor Shawn Davidson made a motion to defer any decision-making until the Monday, June 23 Council meeting. This will give time for the Clerk’s Department to discuss the amendment with the business owners and address their concerns.
The amendment originated from a request made by two Stayner residents in January, who asked for permission to sell hot dogs from a cart on private property in Clearview.
