By Edmond Ortiz
Food truck operators have a new spot on the Northeast Side to set up shop and feed area residents.
What you should know
The Universal City City Council voted 4-2 on Jan. 6 to approve the development of a mobile food truck park at 1980 Universal City Blvd.
The approved agreement with property owner Subhi Hamideh permits the establishment of pads for six food trucks and 18 parking spaces, including two for disabled motorists, on an unused lot between the Mod Wash laundromat and The Peaks apartment complex.
The new food truck park can also include three bicycle racks, a trash enclosure, outdoor restrooms, and a monument sign. According to the pact, food truck operators can conduct business between 5:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. any day.
The establishment of a food truck park on this site will not be funded by the city’s general operating budget.
However, the city’s economic development corporation will provide $124,276 to support minor infrastructure improvements to help ensure safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians entering or exiting the food truck park.
More perspectives
City officials said the establishment of this food truck park should result in economic stimulus in the form of property and sales tax revenues, and convince even more food truck operators to do business in Universal City. The Screamin’ Chameleon food truck park and bar in the city’s Aviation District has proven popular with residents and commuters, including workers at nearby Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.
Local leaders also said public infrastructure improvements around the affected property will benefit residents.
Mayor Pro Tem Christina Fitzpatrick and Councilmembers Bernard Rubal voted against the resolution. Fitzpatrick said she likes the idea of a food truck park, especially close to her home. But she voiced concern about the food truck park’s potential impact on traffic.
“I already have a hard time when I’m trying to turn out of my neighborhood towards City Hall because (traffic) backs up and they block that access, so I do see it as potentially problematic,” she added.
