City rejects Taco Bus pick-up window, facade proposals

When the Mexican restaurant Taco Bus makes its way to Main Street in Sarasota later this year, it could be missing a few of the more distinguishing characteristics of the chain’s Tampa locations.

Plans for the Taco Bus, which will be located at 1548 Main Street, originally included a school-bus inspired facade and a pick-up window for to-go orders along the front of the building. Following internal staff discussions, on July 21, the city informed Taco Bus representatives that neither of those features would be permitted under the city’s zoning code.

City Senior Planner Courtney Mendez explained that the bus facade, which would jut out from the one-story structure, would have to — and did not — comply with the city’s sign regulations. The to-go window, designed to allow customers to pick up orders placed online or over the phone on the sidewalk, violated the city’s right-of-way rules and engineering design standards.

In the email, Mendez writes that the Taco Bus proprietors still have the option of seeking an adjustment to the code from the Planning Board to allow for the facade, though staff would likely recommend denial of that adjustment.

As for the pick-up window, Mendez said she would have to discuss the topic with city engineering staff before any decision could be made on whether that issue could be appealed as well. In the email, Mendez wrote that any orders would have to be picked up within the confines of the restaurant.

Mendez said she isn’t aware of any effort to further pursue those two features, but the option is open if the proprietors are interested.

“It's in their hands to decide which route they want to go in,” Mendez said.

The complex that will house the Taco Bus — along with an Evie’s location slated to include a bowling alley — is currently under construction, with a targeted completion date in early September.