The use of Portable On-Demand Storage (PODS) units is becoming more prevalent. PODS are generally used
for temporary storage and shipping of personnel items during a move from one
location to another. This summer one of
these showed up and the city was faced with an issue that hadn’t been
previously addressed. With no specific
rules to guide us the Planning Commission was charged with an effort to develop
standards in how these temporary uses will be handled.
Information was received from other cities as to how they
manage these uses. A draft of the
potential rules was reviewed. A public
hearing was called to review the draft which was recommended to the city
council for approval. The proposal
included a definition of a storage container (PODS), the use is limited to only
one per property, they would be allowed to be used for up to 60 days,
establishes setbacks, allows use during construction, and also is part of the
impervious surface calculation.
The city council reviewed the proposed language and after a
good deal of discussion felt some additional conditions were warranted. They added that the PODS cannot be used for
living quarters, can be no longer than 20 feet, and a permit is required for there
use. With those amendments the ordinance
was adopted.
We now have standards in which to deal with the use of PODS
in the city.
