The Marshall County Commissioners looked over the proposed zoning ordinance that discusses shipping containers when they met Monday morning.
Plan Director Ty Adley explained that he looked into questions concerning the grandfathering process and he found that they would have had to be in prior compliance, but they would be allowed under the ordinance amendment with conditions. He also researched shipping containers as dwellings, but there were discussions about using them only as cold storage.
Commission President Kevin Overmyer commented that the issue at hand landed on the table of the commissioners as a recommendation from the Planning Commission after property owners reportedly had a dispute.
Commissioner Michael Burroughs stated his opinion on the matter.
Burroughs said, “I believe that storage containers are the same as an outdoor building. That is still my contention and should be treated as such. Anything that we have in our current ordinance that pertains to outdoor buildings also pertains to storage facilities.”
Commissioner Stan Klotz clarified that it would be classified as an accessory structure and Burroughs confirmed that was his thinking.
Adley said shipping containers could be added under accessory structures in the current ordinance.
“So, if the ordinance is revised that’s presented today to strip out the conditions that are proposed to essentially just allow it by right as an accessory structure, anywhere you can have an accessory structure will allow shipping containers.”
The commissioners agreed that would be the best idea at this time.
They unanimously approved a motion to include shipping containers under accessory structures in the current zoning ordinance, and rejected the proposed zoning ordinance.
The commissioners’ decision will be taken back to the Planning Commission to be discussed as an amendment and will go back to commissioners for formal approval. Another public hearing will be held by commissioners concerning the matter in the next couple of months.
