Limits approved for food trucks in downtown La Crosse

The city of La Crosse is trying to place some limits on food trucks doing business downtown.

The city council’s judiciary committee approved certain times and geographic restrictions on where food vendors can operate.

For example, licensed food trucks might not be allowed to operate within 150 feet of a restaurant considered a direct competitor.

Robin Moses from the Downtown Mainstreet organization says the idea behind the restrictions is to protect the brick-and-mortar restaurants downtown, which compete with the street vendors.

“They’ve made a huge investment into their property, and to the taxes that they pay,” Moses said. “They felt that there should be some balance to not have someone pull right up to their front door and be able to vend.”

The limits will be considered by the full city council next week.