The Marshall County Commissioners reviewed two proposed ordinance amendments concerning shipping containers and solar farms.
Earlier this year, the commissioners placed a moratorium on solar farm developments more than 10 acres. Since then, a task force met and put forth recommendations for amendments to be considered by the Planning Commission. Several changes were made with more input from the commissioners. The commissioners wanted to the remove the allowance of solar farms on marginal agricultural soils, and include that the contour of the property must be maintained, make sure system components are 95 percent recyclable, and allow no tax abatements on solar farms.
Plan Director Ty Adley told the commissioners Monday morning that the Planning Commission approved those amendments with a unanimous vote. However, County Attorney Jim Clevenger was not given the ordinance to review so the commissioners tabled consideration of the ordinance amendment until January.
Adley also presented an ordinance amendment adding shipping containers to an article in the zoning ordinance.
“Essentially, all this is seeking to do is further clarify that shipping containers aren’t permitted within Marshall County as acceptable storage,” said Adley. “Some individuals consider them to be accessory structures where we consider them to be as part of what they truly are as the transportation industry for shipping.”
Marshall County Coroner John Grolich, who is also the president of the Marshall County Fire Association, commented that those types of containers are often used by the fire department.
Grolich stated, “There are several fire departments in the county that are offered these free of charge for use for training so there should be some specifications in there, or some identification, for fire service use for training.”
He added that the fire departments also use them for storage.
Marshall County Building Commissioner Chuck DeWitt stated that shipping containers should not be permitted.
“A shipping container is a shipping container and that’s what it’s made for,” said DeWitt. “It has no use for storing anything. It does not meet any building codes. It does not protect anyone who enters that building or anything that’s inside of it. I say get rid of them. No exceptions.”
The commissioners asked that the amendment be clarified to allow use for emergency services. It will go back to the Planning Commissioner for further review.
