The city of Woodburn understands that it needs to set guidelines for food carts, but it doesn’t want to do so in a manner that hinders those already in business.
That is the line that the Woodburn City Council straddled on Monday, June 24, when it pored over the topic and heard testimony from city planners and a couple of food cart owners/operators. Woodburn Planning Commission deliberated on food carts multiple times over this past spring before city planners brought a tentatively proposed ordinance before the city council.
In part, the city needed to address food cart operations to comply with new state regulations, such as Oregon Health Authority’s 2020 requirement for carts to have municipal water and sewer connections.
Woodburn Community Development Director Chris Kerr and city Planner Dan Handel presented locally proposed amendments to the council:
Allowing food cart pods in all commercial and industrial zoning districts, and requiring most food carts to be located within a pod;Outlining development review criteria for food cart pods (parking, landscaping, seating areas, etc.);Requiring all food carts within a pod be connected to municipal water and sewer;Prohibiting propane tanks and power generators in food cart pods;Requiring street improvements for food cart pods similar to what would be required for a single-family dwelling;Specifying a review process for food cart pods;Clarifying when food carts are eligible to apply for a city special event permit.
The pod requirement has exceptions, such as delivery services (i.e. ice cream trucks), special events (i.e. Taste of Woodburn) and mobile food services.
The amendments would not affect the downtown businesses that vend from the sidewalk in front of their brick-and-mortar shops.
“These amendments wouldn’t change that allowance to set up shop in front of your storefront,” Handel said. “It would just prevent the random vendor coming in with a pushcart. That was one change the downtown business owners were really focused on and supportive of.”
Handel said in addition to aiming for safety and clarity, the new ordinance would actually expand opportunities for food carts in Woodburn since it provides for operations in commercial and industrial zones, rather than just the latter as is currently stipulated.
Kerr noted that operators currently apply for temporary/short-term licenses to set up in commercial zones
“The proposed regulations will allow for the development of a unified group, or ‘pod,’ of carts in both commercial and industrial districts,” Kerr said. “They would then be allowed on a permanent basis in more areas – such as State Hwy. 99. These food cart pods would be similar to (food carts) you see in other cities (with) central covered/enclosed seating, shared parking areas, walkways, etc.
“Additionally, the council requested that staff modify the regulations to allow single carts (outside of a pod) to operate in these expanded areas as well,” he added.
Ultimately, the topic elicited an amended motion by Council President Sharon Schaub: “I move to amend the motion…to tentatively approve this legislative amendment…and direct staff to prepare an ordinance for consideration with some options for single cart operations.”
City planners anticipate presenting an ordinance for council approval on July 22.
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