Woodland looks to ease food truck rules (2024)

Stacey Ramirez’s food truck The Islander has a spot she likes to park in at the old Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue station on Davidson Avenue.

The space has been converted into an unofficial food truck court, but as of right now, Ramirez is unsure if vendors will be allowed to remain there without the city’s official OK.

City staff are proposing code changes to clear up confusion on where mobile food vendors — like Ramirez’s rice-bowl-and-seafood food truck — can set up shop in the city. But staff say these changes still won’t address the food truck court at what locals call the Firehall at 100 Davidson Ave.

What is the issue?

Today, food trucks in Woodland can set up shop on public land, but parking on privately owned lots is more tricky because of the ambiguity in the city’s code, said Woodland Associate Planner Malene Garcia-DeBoard. This has led to some would-be food truck businesses being hesitant to set up shop in the city.

“It’s been a question often enough,” she said. “People who are already established outside of the city, and who are interested in coming to Woodland have called me asking about it.”

Staff’s proposed changes will be addressed at a Woodland Planning Commission public hearing June 20 at the Woodland City Council Chambers at 200 East Scott Ave. and will be streamed live on Zoom.

Under the draft code, food trucks would be added to the central business and highway commercial zones, which include the frontage roads on either side of Interstate 5, Belmont Loop and the blocks between Bozarth Avenue and Davidson Avenue, where the Firehall is located.

In August, Woodland councilmembers discussed the possibility of making Firehall a permanent food truck venue, with rental revenue going toward the maintenance and improvement of the building. But since then, no decision has been made.

Woodland’s new Public Works Director Riley Bunnell said Thursday he can’t recommend City Council to make the site a permanent food truck court without more research first.

Specific code changes

Specifically the draft change calls the trucks “mobile food units.” Officially defining that term could allow more guidance for business owners who want to set up shop in different parts of the city, said Garcia-DeBoard

If today someone wanted to park on a private lot, such as a church parking lot or a commercial driveway, they would have to go get an OK from the city through a site plan approval, a less-specific permitting option that may exclude some types of food trucks.

Designating food trucks as temporary use would also make permitting easier than getting one of these site plan reviews, Garcia-DeBoard said.

Under the proposed changes, food trucks would have to conform to existing parking minimums, as well as access and egress requirements. Each vendor would also need dedicated space for pedestrians at least 10 feet away from vehicle traffic.

The draft ordinance also includes guidance on lots with two or more food trucks on it, requiring at least 1.5 parking spots per truck. Each mobile food unit already needs a city of Woodland business license, Washington Labor and Industries verification, and a Cowlitz or Clark County food handlers license.

The other standards for a mobile food unit court outlined in the draft include: