WESTMINSTER : Food-Cart Ordinance Narrowly Approved

The City Council has narrowly approved an ordinance that permits retail businesses to operate food carts in front of their stores.

The council voted 3 to 2 in favor of the ordinance, with Mayor Charles V. Smith and Councilmen Frank Fry Jr. and Craig Schweisinger supporting it. Councilwomen Joy L. Neugebauer and Lyn Gillespie voted against it.

Under the law, commercial businesses with more than 20,000 square feet will be permitted to operate a single food cart outside their store. For example, Home Depot at Westminster Mall has wanted to sell hot dogs from a cart outside.

Neugebauer said she opposed the ordinance because the council had not received sufficient information from the Chamber of Commerce and also because it could create “unfair competition with established food shops.”