Decision on shipping containers still on hold

By Kevin O’Brien

A petition to allow shipping containers in the residential areas of county-zoned townships is still awaiting action by the Marathon County Environmental Resources Committee (ERC), which postponed a vote on the proposal for the second time at its April 30 meeting.

Submitted by the town of Plover in December, the petition would allow the containers to be used as permanent accessory structures, as long as landowners obtain a conditional use permit, in the following zoning districts: urban residential, low-density residential, rural residential, rural estate and conservancy/recreation. If the petition were approved by the ERC and county board, the new rule would apply to all 18 townships within county zoning.

The committee held a public hearing on Plover’s petition at its March 5 meeting, with four Plover residents and one from McMillan speaking in favor of the change as a way to give residents a low-cost option for storing items that would otherwise be kept outside.

Staff from Conservation, Planning and Zoning (CPZ) also shared comments solicited from town officials. Reactions to the proposal were mixed at that point, with some town boards supporting the expanded usage of storage containers and others objecting based on concerns with the appearance and upkeep of the structures.

The ERC postponed action on the petition until its May 1 meeting, and CPZ staff were directed to revise the petition and get more input from the affected townships.

Garrett Pagel, the county’s land use specialist, said he made several revisions to the proposed zoning change based on the initial feedback from town officials. Included in his revisions is a requirement that the storage containers be painted to blend in with the sur-

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rounding property and to place them in either the side or back yard of the property.

Pagel’s revisions would also prohibit the use of the containers for human habitation, ban them in “major subdivisions” as defined by county code, and require sewage service if interior plumbing is installed. The definition of shipping containers was also amended to exclude semi trailers, box trucks and box vans.

Landowners who want to have a permanent storage container on their property would still need to obtain a conditional use permit from the county’s board of adjustment, which could set additional restrictions based on recommendations from township officials and residents.

After making his revisions, Pagel said he called all 18 county-zoned townships in early April to ask them for additional input, and only the towns of Frankfort, Hewitt, Mc-Millan and Knowlton provided written comments, most of which were in support.

Supervisor Allen Drabek raised questions about the longterm maintenance of the containers and the fencing around them. Pagel said CPZ would respond to those concerns if complaints are made, and the conditional use permit could possibly be revoked if the issues are not addressed.

During public testimony, Plover’s town clerk, Valerie Parker, asked the committee to approve her town’s petition so that residents can legally use storage containers to clean up their yards.

“While I personally don’t think they’re attractive, I’d rather look at that than garbage all over people’s properties,” she said.

When the committee went into deliberations, supervisor Rick Seefeldt said he will be voting against the petition based on concerns raised by the town of Elderon in his district, which has worked to get rid of storage containers.

ERC chairman Jacob Langenhahn asked the committee to delay action for another month so that one of the towns in his district, which is under county zoning, could provide input.

“I would like their feedback before we proceed with an actual vote,” he said.

Supervisor Mike Ritter, however, said Plover has been patient in waiting for the county to act on its petition and he did not support delaying a vote just because some towns did not provide feedback.

“Staff has reached out to these towns on several occasions,” he said. “If they can’t get their act together and give us their opinion, then I believe they don’t want their opinion to be heard.”

Ultimately, though, the committee took no action on the petition.

Drabek said waiting an extra month will allow the three newly elected supervisors on the committee more time to speak with their constituents about the issue.

“I don’t think, after this much time, a little bit longer is going to hurt much,” he said.