HORRY COUNTY ,SC- More than a year after the issue first arose, Horry County Council will reconsider a proposal to allow food trucks.
A committee has again recommended that the county allow food trucks.
The food truck issue began in November 2013 when a truck owner wanted to expand his business into the county. Horry County policy allows push carts, not food trucks.
According to Horry County Spokesperson, Lisa Bourcier the Infrastructure & Regulation Committee met on March 19 and made only one amendment to the original proposed ordinance from the Ad Hoc Committee on Food Trucks, which was removing the pilot program.
Some council members worried the food trucks would lure business from traditional eating places. The Grand Strand has more than 1,800 restaurants.
Mike Byer opened Mike’s Minis food truck in Atlantic Beach last year.
“People love it, it’s something different,” he said.
Byer said he gets asked a lot to serve food at different locations, but the county’s current law doesn’t allow it.
Initially, council members raised concerns over competition between food trucks and traditional restaurants.
“You don’t want to step on anybody’s toes, but you also want to give them an opportunity,” said Byer. “This country was built on entrepreneurship.”
The proposed ordinance states a mobile food vendor cannot be located within 10 feet of another business or within 200 feet of any food service. If council decides to pass the ordinance, there will be a review after six months.
