Voters approve food trucks at brewery

Beer drinkers rejoice.

Wednesday night's town meeting voted to approve an amendment to the town's vendor ordinance that would allow food trucks at Nod Hill Brewery on Route 7.

More than 100 supporters filled the town hall conference room for the public hearing, which generated a 30-minute discussion from the Board of Selectmen before votes were cast.

Selectwoman Maureen Kozlark was the only member who raised opposition to the amendment. Her main concern had to deal with parking at the site of 137 Ethan Allen Highway (Route 7) — a lot that hosts several other businesses.

“I think that the hours should be defined," she said.

Brewery owner Rob Kaye told the room that the truck would be closed at the same time as the brewery.

“As far as food trucks staying there permanently, I don’t want them there permanently, because we have other businesses there,” Kaye said.

Kozlark also feared the selectmen were setting a bad precedent.

"This is not specific to just Nod Hill Brewery, it opens the town to all brewery and wineries," she said. "I think we should be more judicious in our voting."

She wasn't the only dissenting voice in the crowd.

Khurram Sheikh, the owner of Sand Wedge deli on Route 7, said allowing food trucks at the brewery was bad for "brick and mortar businesses."

"[They're] already in trouble because of all the online stuff,” he said.

Sheikh said the food trucks may not even be operated by a local person.

“No guarantee they’re coming from Ridgefield," he said. “They could be coming from Danbury, Norwalk, anywhere.”

“I read the quote they’re expecting 500 customers a day, they’re not coming out of thin air," Sheikh added. “We operate on a very thin … there’s a thin line between profit and loss.”