Food trucks and pushcarts can sell at The Boardwalk at Town Center for a 12-month trial, approved Oct. 26. Permits cost $50 a quarter. Here are the rules.

Food trucks and pushcarts will be able to sell at The Boardwalk at Town Center under a 12-month pilot program the Johns Creek City Council approved Monday, Oct. 26.

Updated Oct. 27: the council approved the pilot ordinance and a $50-a-quarter permit fee on its consent agenda Oct. 26, according to the meeting summary. The same meeting adopted the rollback property tax rate.

It is the first time the city has allowed independent food vending in any of its parks. Today, food trucks can sell on city park property only as part of a city-run or city-permitted special event. That is according to the staff agenda report and draft ordinance presented at the council’s Oct. 5 work session.

Community Development Director Ben Song and Recreation and Parks Director Michael King walked the council through the plan. The work session summary says council members agreed to move the ordinance forward to a council meeting. The council adopted it Oct. 26.

Where the trucks could go

The pilot covers only The Boardwalk, the city park behind City Hall at 11362 Lakefield Drive, and city land next to it. The ordinance describes the park as its trail, plazas, amphitheater, terraced seating, pond and constructed wetland.

Trucks and carts could park only at vending spots marked on a site plan approved by the recreation and parks director. Pushcarts are limited to the 15-foot-wide Boardwalk trail, which runs from East Johns Crossing to Johns Creek Parkway.

The ordinance does not allow food trucks at any other city park, on city streets or on private property. Any expansion would need a new vote by the council.

The rules

Under the ordinance, vendors must:

  • need a city permit for each truck or cart, on top of a city occupation tax certificate, a Fulton County health permit and a fire marshal inspection
  • sell food and nonalcoholic drinks only, with no alcohol and no other goods
  • sell only on the days and hours on their permit, and not outside the Boardwalk’s posted hours unless it is part of a city event
  • stay out of the park during city-run events unless they are part of the event
  • keep clear of the accessible walking route, stay at least 5 feet from the pond and wetland and never block emergency vehicles
  • play no music or announcements to draw customers
  • carry at least $1 million in liability insurance and sign an agreement protecting the city from claims
  • take all waste with them, with no grease, wastewater or ice dumped on the ground or in the pond
  • staff the truck at all times and move it off the site at the end of each day

Permit fees are not in the ordinance. The council set them by a separate resolution on Oct. 26. The staff report and resolution add a permit fee of $50 a quarter for each truck or cart to the recreation and parks fee schedule.

What happens after 12 months

The ordinance takes effect when the mayor signs it. It and every permit under it end 12 months after that, unless the council extends, suspends or ends it sooner. At least 60 days before the end, the recreation and parks director must report to the council on permits issued, complaints and incidents. The report would recommend whether to end, keep, change or expand the program.

Also from the Oct. 5 work session

The same summary records two other decisions that need no further council vote:

  • Streetlights near high schools. The council agreed to add streetlights on existing utility poles within half a mile of each high school staff identified. Staff will go ahead with the work.
  • Johns Creek Parkway landscaping. The council agreed to add landscaping at the areas the public works director presented, while keeping future use of the land in mind.

What it means for you

  • Trucks need a permit first. Each vendor needs a city permit before selling, so trucks will not appear until permits are issued. They can only use the spots marked on the director’s site plan.
  • Tell the city what you think. The director’s report before the pilot ends will count complaints and incidents. The city’s online public comment form goes to the mayor and council.
  • Run a food truck? You will need your Fulton County health permit, a Johns Creek occupation tax certificate and a fire marshal inspection, then the $50-a-quarter city permit. Contact the Recreation and Parks Department to apply.

Looking for somewhere to eat in the meantime? See our Johns Creek restaurant guide and things to do.