FREEPORT – The Freeport Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Oct. 1 on an ordinance change that would allow food trucks to operate on property owned by businesses outside the downtown.

The Planning Board is considering a request from Maine Beer Co., which brews and sells craft beer from its location at 525 U.S. Route 1, to amend the zoning ordinance. In July, Maine Beer used a temporary permit that allowed a Good Shepherd Food Bank food truck to operate in its parking lot, with all the proceeds going to Good Shepherd. Dan Kleban, who owns Maine Beer Co. with his brother Dave Kleban, said that the fundraiser worked so well, it gave them the idea to approach the Planning Board for the ordinance amendment.

“It was amazing,” Kleban said. “It was great for everybody. Our customers loved it, Good Shepherd loved it, it worked well for everybody.”

Wendyll Caisse, chairwoman of the Planning Board, emphasized that food trucks would not interfere with the operation of the food carts in the village, nor would they occupy areas along the streets.

Food trucks are a good option for businesses, such as Maine Beer Co., which do not have the means to operate restaurants, Caisse said. Maine Beer has a tasting room, and customers can purchase their bottled beer to go.

As another potential use for a food truck, Caisse said, a coffee house on Route 1 South could have a food truck outside that serves doughnuts.

“It’s a paradigm shift, that’s what it is,” said Caisse, who owns Buck’s Naked BBQ and Steakhouse, not far away across Route 1. “They can offer their craft beer and food, too. They subcontract with the food truck. They’re not involved in running the food truck.”

Caisse said she has heard some resistance to the ordinance change from “brick-and-mortar” restaurants in town.

“That was a problem for a while in Portland, too,” she said. “There has to be some good language involved that mitigates the impact on them. In Portland, (food trucks) have to be 200-500 feet from an existing restaurant. There must be a host business with a public bathroom and the truck must be located on that host property. It’s really got to be flushed out fully.”

Caisse said that the Planning Board is hoping for plenty of public input during the Oct. 1 hearing. The board would meet again to decide if it wants to send the matter to the Town Council.

“We’ll work on the language and submit it to the Town Council for approval,” she said. “One of the complaints about a food truck is that they shouldn’t line the downtown streets. Freeport won’t be doing that.”

Kleban said that if Maine Beer gets the full-time permit, it would have the food truck on its property during tasting room hours, which are noon-5 p.m. Sunday and Monday, and noon-7 Tuesday through Saturday.

“We’re not looking to own one,” he said. “The host usually doesn’t own the truck. We would change out on the food trucks. Good Shepherd would be at the top of the list.”

Kleban pointed out that food trucks set up only on property that sells artisan food or beverages, and only in certain zones of a municipality. The permit would be for one food truck per day, with the exception that on special occasions there could be up to three trucks for a duration of three days, he said. He said he doesn’t know how soon the ordinance might be amended.

“We’ll let the process take its course and then we’ll see,” he said.

Kleban said he does not have the desire to operate a restaurant on his property, which brews many varieties of craft beer.

“That’s why food trucks are such a good option at businesses like ours,” he said.

The public hearing at the Town Hall will begin at 6 p.m.