PHOTO/Pru Sowers

White Street Station, a new food truck at the corner of Truman and White streets, is one of two trucks that have been cited by the city for multiple code violations.

 

City cites food trucks for illegal operations

BY PRU SOWERS

NEWS WRITER

Got permit?

In the case of two local food trucks, the answer is no. And unless they come into compliance with city zoning and planning codes, each faces potential fines of hundreds of dollars a day.

Multiple code citations have been issued against Yebo Island Grille, 629 Duval St., and White Street Station, 1127 Truman Ave., according to Jim Young, the city’s senior manager in its code compliance department. The charges against Yebo Island Grille include not filing a minor development plan with the city, adding outdoor seating and commercial storage without city approval, and installing signs not approved by the city Historic Architectural Review Commission (HARC).

For White Street Station, the alleged violations include adding commercial storage and an outdoor sales area without city approval, and installing electrical, plumbing, and sewer connections without applying for and receiving the required city permits.

White Street Station is owned by Michael Wilson, who also owns Michaels Restaurant, 523 Margaret St. Yebo Island Grille is operated by Joel Dos Santos. Santos received planning board approval to build seating and other structures around his food truck but HARC members balked, saying the structures were inappropriate for the surrounding residential neighborhood. Santos has repeatedly postponed subsequent appearances before HARC.

Young said he is hopeful the owners of both new businesses will voluntarily come into compliance with city code requirements. If they don’t however, they could face significant fines.

“The judge could fine them up to $250 a day for each count [of code violation]. It could get expensive,” Young said.

Both businesses were slated to appear before Special Magistrate J. Jefferson Overby on April 23. However, that hearing has been postponed until May 28, Young said.

Yebo Island Grille had received city planning board approval for its food truck operation but has not filed the required minor development plan with HARC. White Street Station also did not appear before HARC. In addition, Young said, White Street Station hooked into the city’s sewer system without approval and installed electrical and plumbing systems for the stationary food truck without applying for the necessary building permits.

Young said the city’s goal is not to collect thousands of dollars in fines from the two small business owners but to have their operations come into compliance with city building codes.

“People starting a new business, we commend them. But you’ve got to do it by the rules,” he said.

The planning board is scheduled this week to consider a request from the city planning department for a six-month moratorium on issuing new permits for food trucks. The permit pause would give planners time to write proposed codes regulating the proliferation of the food service trucks.

“The city does not have a mechanism to regulate the use, location, design, operation, maintenance, and number of mobile food dispensing vehicles. Many cities and counties throughout Florida have regulated such vehicles to protect their communities against potential adverse effects,” said Key West Senior Planner Brendon Cunningham in a memo to the planning board.

While there is no breakdown on the number of operational food trucks in Key West because food trucks, carts and booths are listed under the same mobile vendors category, licensing coordinator and administrator Kim Pita estimated approximately 10 food truck permits had been issued, with about six of them actively preparing and serving food.

 

 

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