Universal City clears another food truck park, but council worries about too many of them

UNIVERSAL CITY — Universal City council gave the green light to a new food truck park at 214 Rosewood Drive, adding another small commercial food-truck site just off Pat Booker Road. Just to the left of Los Porkys Tacos Tortas And More.

City staff described the property as a roughly 7,200-square-foot vacant lot where a building was demolished several years ago. The site plan presented to council included space for three to four food trucks, 10 parking spaces, picnic seating, bicycle racks, outdoor restrooms and a trash enclosure.

Staff said the site will connect to city sewer, water and CPS power, which means generators are not expected to be part of the operation. An eight-foot wooden fence is planned along the rear property line next to the nearby neighborhood.

Council discussion focused less on the site design and more on whether Universal City is starting to approve too many food truck courts. Council member Tom Goolsby said he does not want every vacant lot turning into one.

City staff responded that the city's existing food truck locations are spread across different parts of Universal City and said future proposals would still come before council individually.

Council member Bear Rubal asked whether nearby residents had been consulted. Staff said the lot is commercially zoned and that the proposed use fits within the city's ordinance, subject to council approval.

Staff also told council the city checks whether vendors hold the required sales and use tax permits and can verify filings through quarterly reporting.

The Rosewood project is a small story on its own. The bigger one may be what it says about the city's approach to redevelopment: when a vacant commercial lot opens up, food trucks are becoming one of the easiest paths from empty land to active business use.