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MOUNDS VIEW City of Mounds View Staff Report Item No: 6A Meeting Date: April 17, 2013 Type of Business: Other Planning Activity To: Planning Commission Prom: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate Item Title/Subject: Discuss Proposed Code Amendment for Accessory Buildings— Shipping Containers Discussion: At the January 2, 2013 Planning Commission meeting, the Commission agreed with staff that shipping containers are not appropriate as a permanent use in residential districts, but felt that there are situations where these, or other types of portable storage containers (such as PODS), could be allowed temporarily. Construction projects or moving are the primary reasons that a resident would have a temporary need for a storage container. At the February 6, 2013 Planning Commission meeting, the Commission and staff reviewed several ordinance examples from other cities, and the Commission gave staff feedback on what regulations they would like to see in an ordinance. The Commission supported allowing the containers for short periods of time, but not for permanent use, and also recommends not allowing the existing cargo containers in the City to remain as non -conforming. Staff reviewed this code amendment with the City Council at the March 4, 2013 Worksession, and the Council is supportive of moving forward with this amendment. At the March 20, 2013 Planning Commission meeting, the Commission wanted to table this to the next meeting in order to work on additional wording that would not allow the containers permanently in residential districts at all, even modified with pitched roofs and different siding. The rest of the language in the ordinance seems to be acceptable and ready to move forward. Recommendation: Discuss the additional language pertaining to not allowing permanent cargo containers in residential districts, even when modified. Respectfully submitted. Heidi Heller Planning Associate Attachments: 1. Proposed Ordinance