by Katie Spencer
Carrboro Commons Writer

Things seemed pretty normal Saturday evening at Gerardo Martinez’s taquería; there was little sign of recent controversy. Martinez’s truck, along with two others that operate from parking lots in Carrboro, have become familiar parts of the local scene, but in mid-January an anonymous complaint led town officials to ask that they shut down.

Abi Ambriz, 17, helps a customer at her uncle’s taquería outside of Cliff’s Meat Market as Cliff Collins looks on. Ambriz said she thinks “there should be more things like this here, not Wendy’s or McDonalds.”
Photo by Katie Spencer

Mobile food stands are in violation of a Carrboro zoning regulation, according to a memo posted by Mayor Mark Chilton on OrangePolitics.org on Jan. 26. The town sent notification to property owners of Fitch Lumber, Cliff’s Meat Market and Johnny’s Sporting Goods, the businesses who allow the use of their parking lots.

The taquerías’ apparent doom threw loyal customers into action that weekend. Martinez said he usually stays open from 6 to 11 p.m. but, “that (Saturday) we closed at like 8:30 because I ran out of food,” estimating 400-600 taco sales that night.

Martinez, 30, said he moved to the area from Guanajuato, Mexico, at age 17 and has been an employee at Cliff’s Meat Market ever since. About a year and a half ago, he opened his taquería and began selling tacos and quesadillas filled with pork, chicken, beef or tongue, for the adventuresome.

Martinez has three children, ages 9, 8 and 1, and said he started the venture to make some extra money.

“I want to save money for my kids, for them to go to college,” he said.

The trucks have been a success. Carrboro customer Frank Desaix likened them to gourmet street vendors of New York City. He said he wouldn’t go anywhere else to get a taco.

“If you want Mexican food, you go to Mexican people,” he said.

Bill Fairbanks, 54, owner of Carrburritos, said he did not think the taco trucks were hurting his business.

“If they are in compliance with the health department, I say more power to ‘em,” he said.

Ranulfo Franco, part-owner of the truck at Fitch Lumber, said he obtained a permit from the state health department before serving food. He said they come by every three or four months to inspect the truck.

However, the issue is not with state-wide health codes, but with Carrboro zoning regulations. Land Use Ordinance 15-149 has been in affect since the 1980s, said development review administrator Marty Roupe.

Planning administrator Trish McGuire said the ordinance deals with limiting commercial activities occurring in motor vehicles.

“Some of the issues associated with that are that businesses don’t set up a permanent presence,” she said. “They don’t take a piece of property and improve upon it.”

But the rules may be subject to change. In a Board of Aldermen meeting last Tuesday, Feb. 5, Chilton suggested that town staff begin the process of amending the ordinance. The board voted unanimously in favor.

Chilton has shown support for the taco trucks from the beginning. Cliff Collins, owner of Cliff’s Meat Market, said he was considering filing an appeal when, “The mayor came in (Friday, Jan. 25) and he said, ‘The taco stand is staying.’”

Amending the ordinance could take four to six months, McGuire said.

However, taco enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief: Chilton said he advised staff not to pursue zoning enforcement when it appears that the rules are undergoing scrutiny.

Town staff will first come up with a draft proposal and then bring it before the board. If the board is in favor of the revisions, they will invite the public to weigh in on the issue at a hearing. Then there will be a final vote to adopt or reject the amendment, Chilton said.

Collins said he thinks the taquerías are an asset to the community and expressed appreciation for the support.

“I feel like the mayor’s done the right thing,” he said. “I respect him for doing it.”