Food Truck Court gets Planning Board approval
Hours of operation limited to 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Planning Board Monday approved boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette’s proposal to construct a temporary food truck court at a northern section of the waterfront.
Six food trucks will be stationed along the open space area adjacent to the boardwalk near Seventh Avenue, just past the North Beach condominiums.
The food truck court [shown at right in photo rendering above] will include a landscaped perimeter, string lights, 12 picnic tables, umbrellas, and a game area designed to accommodate passive recreational games like horseshoe or corn hole, said Madison’s Director of Retail Carrie Turner.
Madison aims to open the food truck court by July 4 weekend, but possibly by mid-June, according to Anselm Fusco, Madison Marquette senior vice president.
The controversial project was met with quality of life concerns by neighboring residents who questioned environmental affects like litter, noise and light pollution, loitering after hours of operation, and waste water management.
Following the directives of the City Council, who had to approve the project before it could advance to the Planning Board, the site will be hardwired with electricity and a water hose will be provided for cleaning purposes.
The hours of operation are limited to 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The project is being developed in conjunction with waterfront redeveloper iStar’s temporary parking lot [shown above], also approved on Monday night. The metered parking lot is bordered by Seventh and Ocean Avenues, Kingsley Street and the food truck court.
The food trucks will have access to the site via the parking lot and must enter and exit within one hour of the opening and closing times.
The Planning Board required 24” to 30” plantings in front of the 14 parking stalls facing the North Beach condominiums to avoid headlight spillage into homes.
Turner said the food truck court will be monitored by Madison employees and litter control will be part of the current cycle they perform along the boardwalk.
While the Planning Board approved the temporary food truck court for a 6 year time frame, the boardwalk redeveloper must return to the City Council in two years for any extension.
Because the project sits on an open green space area no permanent structures or development are permitted.
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