SEQUIM — A conflict with city regulations has forced — for now, anyway — a food vendor to move his business out of downtown Sequim.
Javier Moreno has operated Fita’s Catering/Taco Shop from a specially outfitted truck parked in a gravel lot on the corner of Third Avenue and West Washington Street since July of last year.
Saturday was his last day at that location because city regulations don’t provide for a permanently located food business that’s not hooked up to water and sewer utilities, said City Manager Bill Elliott.
“That kind of business is not allowed in the commercial area,” Elliott said.
“There definitely is not an ordinance to have these vendors around town.”
Moreno said he plans to move his taco truck outside the city limit, and perhaps start driving a route instead of selling from just one location.
‘To make it harder’
Moreno said he went to the city when he opened his business to get the applicable permits and was told what requirements he would have to meet.
“It’s not going to meet it, because it’s not a building,” Moreno said.
“They’re just adding stuff to make it harder.”
Even so, he said he was surprised when his landlord received a letter from the city at the beginning of March noting that Moreno’s taco stand violated city rules and that stiff fines could be imposed.
The stand had been operating under a temporary activity permit, which is generally used for vendors at weekend festivals or other short-term events.
Regulations restrict the length of time and the number of such permits allowed on a property — otherwise, a business could simply keep renewing a temporary permit instead of meeting the requirements for a permanent license.
Elliott said allowing the stand to stay there would be unfair to other food businesses in Sequim which have invested in buildings, utility hookups and the like.
