Could food trucks be rolling into Bluffton soon?

Is it only a matter of time until food trucks are allowed to set up shop in Bluffton?

That depends on who you ask.

Local chef and food truck owner Bridgette Frazier said Thursday that “food trucks are here, it’s just a question of how long it will take Bluffton to welcome them in.”

Food truck proprietors may have reason not to feel particularly welcome.

Last month’s Bluffton Town Council meeting turned into a contentious showdown between food truck operators and local brick-and-mortar restaurant owners who are concerned the trucks could bring unfair competition and clog the already crowded Old Town streets.

Town staff held a public meeting Thursday in an attempt to clear the air and solicit input on potential changes to regulations that would open up the market to food trucks.

But previously staked battle lines held strong.

Ted Huffman, a former council member and owner of Bluffton BBQ in Old Town, has been a vocal opponent of allowing food trucks — particularly in the town’s restaurant-dense historic district.

“I have nothing against food trucks,” he said. “I think they have their place and they should compete among themselves somewhere in a food (truck) court.”

Huffman said brick-and-mortar stores and restaurants helped build Old Town into the bustling commerce district it is today, and they “had to jump through hoops” to set up shop.

Sippin Cow owner Christy Pinski said she recently “paid beaucoup money in impact fees and business permits (to reopen her restaurant) ... but there are no impact fees for (food truck owners).”

Huffman said for food trucks to simply cruise into town and start serving food in front of established eateries would set up an unfair playing field.

“Food trucks (in Bluffton) are not inevitable,” he said.

Frazier disagreed.

“This is a free market,” she said. “We have the luxury of living in a society where anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur can get that shot.”

Pete Izzillo, owner of the It’s Only Fair food truck, said he hasn’t “met anyone who wants to invade Old Town Bluffton or go to The Promenade and park (in front of restaurants),” he said.

“I personally don’t want to invade on Ted (Huffman’s) space or anyone else — I just want to do business,” he said. “... It seems like there is a horrible feeling between business owners and food trucks, and we understand how hard it is to own a brick-and-mortar (restaurant). But we just want to do our little business and serve some fried golden goodness.”

Many in attendance Thursday — including representatives of both sides of the issue — suggested areas away from the historic district such as Bluffton Village or Buckwalter Place would be more appropriate for food trucks should the town choose to allow them to operate.

Bluffton isn’t the only local municipality grappling with the issue of food trucks.

Similar tension has arisen during recent discussions of bringing food trucks to Hilton Head Island.

Beaufort, which currently allows food trucks in shopping centers and other commercial areas with at least four businesses, is also considering new rules would ease those restrictions to include any commercial area.

Bluffton town planning manager Kevin Icard said he would take comments made at Thursday’s forum and use them to help staff “work on modifying what we have currently” in terms of proposed code changes.

It could be a while before a clear set of rules for food trucks is drafted and presented to the town council members for consideration.

The council will gather for its monthly meeting next week, and Icard said the issue of food trucks will not be on the agenda.

This story was originally published September 8, 2016 at 6:29 AM with the headline "Could food trucks be rolling into Bluffton soon?."