Ridgefield’s food cart pod could be a permanent fixture, with help from the city councilSubscriber Exclusive

Carts by the Park, Ridgefield’s popular food cart pod on Pioneer Street, is getting closer to making its location a permanent one.

The new development standards for food cart pods unanimously recommended by the city’s planning commission would make that possible, if approved by the Ridgefield City Council.

Claire Lust, Ridgfield’s community development director, presented the proposed code changes during the planning commission’s public hearing Wednesday.

“The city currently doesn’t have, in our development code, any language regulating permanent food cart pods. Pods may be permitted under a temporary use permit, which we’ve seen with the Carts by the Park food cart pod downtown,” Lust explained to the commission.

There’s no denying that food carts are popular. With offerings from Nest @ Carts at the Park, Poca Pasta and Sushi Kato, Carts by the Park sees a lot of foot traffic, especially on weekends and holidays. It may be the only food cart pod in Ridgefield, but other additions are in the works.

Renee and Justin Serface, owners of The Neighborhood Refuge on South Main Avenue, plan to add a food cart to their property. In addition, there was interest in another food cart pod on Pioneer Street, east of Interstate 5, to serve the city’s booming commercial development.

As the name indicates, temporary-use permits are only valid for a set period of time. In the case of food cart pods, the temporary-use permit is valid for two years with a one-year extension possible. The temporary-use permit for Carts by the Park, including the extension, expires next month.

To continue operating, Lust said the owner needed to complete a regular site plan review. But therein lies the rub.