The City of Campbell River is running a survey to gage community appetite for food trucks in downtown Campbell River.
The city was is proposing a food truck pilot program for this summer as part of a larger revitalization initiative aimed at bringing more variety and activity downtown. Several of the City’s public consultation events related to downtown revitalization, including a 2016 Refresh Downtown survey, indicated strong public demand for more diverse food options, including food trucks.
But at this week’s public meeting, that pilot project was pushed back to next year.
“The proposed pilot program is a response to the reoccurring theme the city has heard that people are eager to see greater food variety in downtown Campbell River,” says Amber Zirnhelt, the city’s long range planning and sustainability manager. “Research shows that food trucks bring people into public spaces, which could attract more people to the downtown to eat, and shop. We see the pilot program as a way to create lively streets that benefit both the community and downtown businesses.”
As part of the consultation process, the city is seeking survey responses from local businesses, restaurant owners and community members. The city will also be conducting door-to-door surveys this month with downtown businesses and restaurant owners to answer questions and gather feedback that will help shape the direction of the pilot program as well as the long-term suitability of food trucks in Campbell River.
Read answers to frequently asked questions about food trucks on the city’s website at campbellriver.ca/foodtrucks. An online survey is also available at this link and on the City Hall Facebook page for people to share their feedback on the proposed pilot program and associated regulations for food trucks. Paper copies of the survey are available through the Planning Department at City Hall.
The pilot program survey is open until June 22.
For more information on the proposed pilot program, please call the city’s Long Range Planning and Sustainability Department at 250-286-5725 or email foodtrucks@campbellriver.ca