Weekend nights in downtown could get a lot livelier if the Watsonville City Council approves a proposal to let food trucks park on Peck Street.
The council will consider opening one block of parking Peck Street along the City Plaza to food trucks from 9 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Councilman Oscar Rios asked city staff to work up the plan that would massively expand the food truck market in Watsonville. Currently, the mobile restaurants are only allowed to serve food on private, industrially zoned property, and cannot stay beyond 10 minutes at the same location.
Food trucks have grown beyond the roach coaches and taco trucks that started appearing in the 1950s. Gourmet food trucks serve ethnic or fusion cuisine and, thanks to social media, have die-hard followings.
Carmona's BBQ Deli runs a food truck in Watsonville that visits several high schools and businesses daily. The popular truck even caters private events and weddings.
Food trucks have become a fanatical thing in the region. A weekly food truck meet-up on Wednesdays in Milpitas draws tons of loyal customers.
Food trucks generally have been met with good reviews. An article Watsonville city staff pulled for the city council to review noted few problems in Raliegh, NC, after eight months of permitting food trucks downtown.
If approved, food trucks would be allowed beginning Oct. 5, so long as the owners submit a simple application to the Parks and Community Services Department showing that they have a Watsonville Business License.
In addition to the food truck discussion, the city council will consider a proposal to spend $93,000 to improve the fueling station at the Watsonville Airport and review the 2030 General Plan.
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- Party at Milpitas Big Lots Every Wednesday
- Follow That Truck
