Following an ordinance revision last week, some Woodland recreational vehicle (RV) park operators may now allow year-round occupancy, provided they receive approval for a zone change from the City Council.
During its Monday, Aug. 19 meeting, Woodland’s City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that would permit RV park operators to request a zone change to allow their residents year-round occupancy. All established RV parks in Woodland are currently zoned “highway commercial” (C-2) and are subject to a 90-day occupancy limit. Under the new ordinance, RV park operators can apply for a zoning change to “neighborhood commercial” (C-3) to offer year-round residency. The City Council will ultimately approve or deny any requests.
At a previous meeting on Monday, Aug. 5, most council members indicated their support to allow residents of Woodland Shores, a 57-lot RV park that has been in operation for 30 years, to maintain year-round occupancy. During that meeting, Councilman Douglas Freimarck asked why the zoning ordinance was necessary. Woodland’s City Attorney Emily Guildner explained that establishing different zones and approving the rezones are the city’s only legal options.
In other meeting news, Woodland’s City Council approved amendments to mobile food unit regulations. The new code clarifies where mobile food cart owners can set up and eases the permitting process.
Woodland Community Development Director Travis Goddard explained that the ordinance clarifies where food cart owners can open and establishes an easier method for securing suitable locations in the highway commercial zone near Interstate 5 and the central business zone surrounding Davidson Avenue. Goddard said the code will also facilitate the development of a food cart pod on Davidson Avenue, an idea that has garnered interest from food cart owners.
Under city code, temporary permits allow food carts to operate for 180 days, though city staff may provide a permit for a shorter time period. Goddard explained in a June Planning Commission hearing that through temporary permits, Woodland can facilitate mobile food cart activity while not harming existing restaurants.
“We want to draw the line somewhere that we want to encourage people to invest in the community… If we get somebody who’s doing a food cart at a location once in a while, that’s a lot different than somebody who’s going to have them out there for 180 days straight so they’re out there all summer competing with neighboring restaurants,” Goddard said during a June 20 hearing.
