City set to regulate shipping containers, minimum home size
Short term use of shipping containers for storage use is OK in all parts of the city of Medford with commercial and industrial having the option to request permission for longer-term use through a conditional use permit process.
Those are the changes members of the Medford planning commission are recommending the city council make to the city zoning codes.
On Monday, members of the Medford Planning Commission voted to recommend the code changes following a public hearing where no one came to express either support or opposition for the change. The shipping container ordinance was proposed due to the increasing popularity and low-cost availability of the containers which are used in intermodal shipping.
“There is a glut of them throughout the midwest,” said city planner Bob Christensen. He said a number of communities are creating regulations on if or how they can be used for long-term storage. The primary objection to the storage containers is that they are large and essentially metal boxes without much curb appeal.
According to Christensen, there are some already in use in the city, these would be allowed to remain under the new ordinance as legal non-conforming uses. The ordinance would restrict any new ones being placed. Under the proposed code changes: Temporary outdoor storage container (nonresidential). Enclosed, lockable storage containers such as shipping containers, semi-trailers, storage pods, or other fully enclosed trailers for use on a limited basis on a nonresidential property. Other forms of temporary outdoor storage containers are prohibited.
Temporary moving container (residential). Portable storage containers designed and used primarily for the temporary storage of household goods and other such materials for use on a limited basis on residential property.
The ordinance defines temporary as being 30 days in residential areas and 90 days in non-residential areas.
Christensen gave the example of someone moving and using a storage container during the move, or storage during a home remodel or renovation. He noted the city would be flexible in regard to enforcement if a construction project was delayed.
There was more discussion among planning commission members when it came to use in industrial and commercial zoned areas. “I don’t want to limit business,” said member Molly Knoll.
She noted that in some areas, businesses are using storage containers to build their warehouse spaces. City coordinator Joe Harris gave the example of KBK in the city’s industrial park which has a roof connecting storage containers. He described this as making it into part of another structure rather than just being a stand-alone storage trailer.
Harris said this is why the proposed ordinance includes language allowing business and industry to seek a conditional use permit. This would allow the city to make case by case decisions on if they were appropriate. For example what is acceptable in an industrial park may not be acceptable for a commercially zoned lot adjoining a residential neighborhood. Under conditional use permits, the city has the ability to set conditions such as requiring additional screening or other things.
Christensen noted the conditional use permit would also bring the public into the decision making, since nearby residents are invited to give input and can voice concerns if they have any. “They have the opportunity to make comments, positive, negative or otherwise,” Christensen said.
Commission members voted 4-0 to recommend the ordinance change to the city council. Members Mayor Mike Wellner, Tim Hansen and Dave Zimmerman were absent.
In other business commission members: Approved recommending the city council adopt an ordinance to set minimum size requirements for new residential construction in the city. Under the change the residential buildings in the city would be required to have a minimum 26 foot width and a minimum area of 500 square feet. There was no one at the public hearing and no new discussion on the proposed changes.
