We recently opined that the city of Warren is doing the right thing in creating a food truck ordinance in the wake of criticism from a Warren-based food truck that found it easier to operate in New York state than in Warren County – harsh criticism indeed for anyone who knows the difference between operating in the two states.

Of course, it should go without saying that the city’s food truck ordinance has to be fair not only to food trucks but to brick and mortar restaurants, too. Gary Stoops, owner of the Warren Dairy Queen, recently noted his concerns with the idea of food trucks setting up shop on streets near restaurants and siphoning business away.

It will be a tightrope that Warren officials have to walk with food trucks. Done correctly, food trucks can add vibrancy to events and downtown in general, bringing tastes that may not be sustainable in a brick and mortar storefront in a county like ours. Of course, if you own a steakhouse and a food truck is parked outside selling filet mignon for less because the food truck doesn’t have to pay brick and mortar restaurant overhead, it’s bad for longstanding businesses that have to pay property taxes.

Most food truck ordinances include guidelines that limit food trucks to certain neighborhoods and set limits how closely food trucks can operate in relation to storefront restaurants. The most important thing is for everyone involved to have a seat at the table as the regulations are developed and to make sure concerns are aired before new food truck guidelines take effect. Note that Jamestown, N.Y., recently went through a similar process. It was contentious when first proposed. But when city officials passed a permanent ordinance recently, no restaurants fought against it. That’s due in part to the fact a pilot program helped assuage restaurant owners’ concerns that food trucks were going to ruin their business and, frankly, due in part to the fact that there weren’t so many food trucks clogging city streets to create an issue.

It’s something Warren officials can learn from as we embark on this process.