Sarnia's mayor thinks it could be "refreshing" if council adopts a new food truck bylaw on Monday.
Separation requirements from restaurants would be deleted in the new document.
Mike Bradley said when the policy was initially developed, in the mid 70s/early 80s, it was meant to protect existing businesses who strongly opposed the vehicles.
"It is self-evident that times have changed and just as we loosened up the rules on patios for restaurants, during and after COVID, this is the same approach here," Bradley said.
It found 67 per cent of respondents believed the vehicles should be allowed to operate near existing restaurants, and only two of the six restaurants that responded to the survey viewed them as a source of competition.
"It is good to see that in the majority the restaurant business is saying, 'this is not competition to us and we don't need these restrictions.' So, I think it's one way of wiping out a lot of red tape directed toward small business and allow these businesses to function in a much less regulated environment," Bradley said.
An overwhelming 91 per cent of respondents believed food trucks should be allowed to operate in close proximity to each other.
Council will be asked to direct staff to review opportunities to creatively co-locate the vehicle in public spaces.
"I think it's refreshing to move forward and to take some steps to diminish the red tape that now applies to these refreshment vehicles," Bradley concluded.
Sarnia council will discuss the issue during its regular meeting at 1 p.m.
