AUBURN – The Auburn City Council delayed first reading of an ordinance Monday that would regulate shipping containers.

Ligouri: “The ordinance was originally proposed to get ahead of a trend that is coming up on using shipping containers, because they are cheap and affordable, as a means of long-term storage, putting them in people’s back yards to use as storage facilities and then even now people are living in them.”

 

The city attorney said it could be devaluing for  neighborhoods and harmful to the environment, if  shipping containers to be unregulated.

Councilwoman Katy Billings and Mayor Chris Erickson questioned wording of the ordinance that says permanent use of shipping containers would be prohibited without a permit.

Billings: “That sentence to me says you can still use them permanently on property, but you have to have a permit. Is that right?”

Erickson: “So you can get a permit to have a permanent use on commercial…?

Ligouri: “Temporary.”

Erickson: “It doesn’t say that. It says permanent use. On 150.72. Not authorized for permanent use.

Ligouri: “I know it’s not authorized for permanent...”

Erickson: “Unless they have a permit.”

Billings: “The sentence is confusing.”

Erickson: “It says they can get a permit to have them permanently.”

Billings asked if the intent of the ordinance is to allow storage containers temporarily.

 

 

Building Inspector Chris Darnell said the ordinance would exclude shipping containers in residential districts, but allow the building inspector to issue permits for commercial areas when the location is not in public view.

Councilman Rick Janssen said he supports an ordinance that would allow the city to work with the public when there is a workable plan for shipping containers.

Billing: “The general intent of the ordinance committee, all of this, the intent is for them to not be a permanent structure. Is that the intent?”

Ligouri said the intent is to keep people from stacking stuff in limited space.

Erickson said regulations that the shipping containers have to be placed on a concrete pad indicates a level of permanence.

Janssen said the intent should be to regulate where shipping containers can be used, not for how long.