Common Fields, as well as all future food trucks in Corvallis, are under threat. A new fee that was recently passed requires any food truck to pay between $15,000 and $16,000 to start operations in Corvallis. 

If you were wondering why there are not more food truck options in Corvallis, a recent System Development Charge (SDC) fee is the main reason. This fee has prevented multiple food truck projects planned for Southtown, has led towards the closure of one Southtown restaurant, has put a pause on a coalition of 10 food trucks who received grant money from the city, and will force Common Fields to remove some of our food trucks or pay $30,000 in fees.

These fees are more than triple the amount that most cities in Oregon charge for food trucks. Both Albany and Philomath have no apparent SDC fees for food trucks. These fees are cost prohibitive to small businesses and create a barrier for entrepreneurs who want to start their restaurant journey by opening a food truck.

Why are food trucks important? They are a great way to bring people together and offer new and exciting food choices. They offer local business growth with what should be a low startup cost. We believe they create community through cuisine and diversity.

How can you help make the change Corvallis needs? The good news is that this fee was a part of a larger package and we think this charge specifically was an oversight. We think it can be fixed if we present our case to the city council. On September 22nd at 6:00 pm at Corvallis Fire Station 1 we plan to share our concerns with the city council and ask for a swift amendment to these fees so our current food trucks can continue to operate and food trucks like the ones currently in Southtown do not have to leave.