Planning commission will hear issue of mobile food vendors

The Simi Valley Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at its Wednesday, June 20 meeting on a City Council-initiated zoning amendment that would allow certain types of mobile food vendors to operate on commercial and/or industrial zoned properties with a temporary use permit and the property owner's permission.

The hearing- which is the lone item on Wednesday's Planning Commission agenda- is the result of a council request that the commission consider such an amendment as a possible solution to the city's concerns over vendors selling goods in the public right of way.

City Ordinance No. 1109, which was adopted by the council Feb. 12 to help curb such activity, has been met with resistance from some members of the public, so much so that Simi police officers are currently not enforcing the law until the council can make a final decision on the matter.

According to assistant city planner Sean Gibson, under existing zoning laws, TUPs are only offered to established businesses for such things as sidewalk sales or other promotional activities and can only be used four times a year in 16-day increments.

As written, the proposed amendment to the zoning code would make it possible for certain mobile food vendors to obtain TUPs that would allow them to operate in one specific commercial or industrial property for one year if they have the proper permits and agree to leave the site every evening, Gibson explained.

Wednesday's meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The public is encouraged to attend and provide input. The meeting can also be viewed online through the city's homepage at www.simivalley.org.

- Kyle Jorrey