OTTAWA COUNTY, MI – Thanks to a recent ordinance change, food trucks are coming to Park Township near Holland.

The township’s board of directors passed an ordinance earlier this month allowing licensed food trucks to operate within the township.

Although food trucks are a popular sight in larger cities, they have not been allowed to operate in Park Township.

However, Township Manager Howard Fink said the popularity of mobile food trucks necessitated a change.

“Given the volume of traffic on Ottawa Beach Road to (Holland State Park), the popularity of our area and location, and the general popularity of food trucks, we felt it was a natural step to allow them in Park Township.”

The ordinance also coincides with the construction of a new community park at the corner of 152nd Avenue and Ottawa Beach Road.

Fink said the project will include a music venue, power hookups and built-in capacity for food trucks.

The new regulation sets operating restrictions depending on the type of location where the truck is located.

Commercial business sites have the most freedom when it comes to food truck placement. Permitted operating hours, including set-up and tear-down, are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and restrooms must be accessible when the truck is on site.

Non-commercial establishments such as schools and churches can host up to four food trucks for up to three days per year without a permit and up to 14 days with a permit.

Meika Weiss, the municipality’s director of community development, said the tighter restrictions on non-commercial properties should reflect the “expectation that people will come and go in this area, but not with the intensity of everyday commercial traffic.”

Food trucks can also be set up on private property for private events such as birthday parties, graduation parties and bridal or baby showers, Weiss said. With approval from the Ottawa County Road Commission and the township manager, food trucks can also be used at public events such as flea markets and street festivals.

The permitted operating hours on all residential and non-commercial properties are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The ordinance also provides for the construction of a permanent or semi-permanent food truck facility, subject to site plan approval by the municipality’s planning commission.

Fink added that food trucks also need permission from the property owner to operate on their property. For example, a food truck must obtain a permit from the state to operate in a state park.

“From our perspective, we regulate the food truck, but you also have to get permission from the property owner,” he said.

Weiss noted that if needed, the township could approve food trucks at additional locations during larger events, such as Tulip Time.

While Park Township doesn’t typically see as much foot traffic as Tulip Time, Weiss believes having the food trucks there is a great opportunity for the public.

“We don’t have many restaurants here, so we think it would be a promising addition to the community if there was a short-term opportunity for people to get something to eat,” she said.

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