§ 9-44.070. Cargo Containers

A.

Purpose. This Section provides development standards for the location and use of cargo containers in the residential and specified commercial and industrial zoning districts in the City.

B.

General standards for cargo containers in all applicable zoning districts.

1.

Screening and placement. All cargo containers shall not be visible from any public street. All cargo containers shall be screened from adjoining residential properties with a 10-foot wide landscaped buffer containing a combination of at least two specimen evergreen trees spaced no more than 20 feet from each other measured from the center of each tree within the required buffer area, shrubs, and screen plantings no less than eight feet tall spaced to provide a full screen hedge within a maximum of three years.

2.

Signs. No signs shall be allowed on the cargo containers.

3.

Colors. Cargo containers shall be the same color or a color compatible with that of the structure(s) on the site.

C.

Standards for residential zoning districts. The following cargo container standards shall apply in all residential zoning districts.

1.

Cargo containers may be allowed only when incidental to the allowed nonresidential use (e.g., church, synagogue, or other structure used for religious worship, school, or hospital) located on the site.

2.

Cargo containers shall either be considered as part of a development permit application, or added to a developed site with a Zoning Clearance, subject to the following provisions:

a.

Use. A cargo container shall be used only for the storage of supplies, equipment, or other materials incidental to the approved primary land use on the site.

b.

Location. In no instance shall a cargo container be placed in any required parking space, loading zone, drive aisle, easement, or landscaped area. No cargo container may be located closer than 20 feet from any side or rear property line adjacent to residentially zoned property.

b.

Limitations. The top of any cargo container shall not exceed a height of 10 feet as measured from abutting level land either on-site or off-site. No stacking of cargo containers shall be allowed. No storage of materials on top of cargo containers shall be allowed.

D.

Standards for commercial zoning districts. The following cargo container standards shall apply to the CI, CO, CPD, and CR zoning districts, except as otherwise provided in these regulations.

1.

Cargo containers in the CI, CPD, and CR zoning districts. Cargo containers shall either be considered as part of a development permit application, or added to a developed site with a Zoning Clearance, subject to the following provisions:

a.

Allowed only in rear half of site. Cargo containers shall only be located within the rear one-half of the site.

b.

Use. A cargo container shall be used only for the storage of supplies, inventory, or equipment incidental to the approved primary nonresidential land use on the site. A cargo container shall not be used or occupied as office, sales, retail distribution, or manufacturing space, or for vehicle parking, and may not be leased for use by any off-premises person, business, organization or other entity.

c.

Location. Cargo containers may be allowed only in those zoning districts and locations which allow open storage, except as provided in Section 9-44.110 (Outdoor storage).

d.

Limitations. Cargo containers shall conform to the maximum height, minimum setback, and minimum distance between structure requirements of the zoning district in which they are located. In no instance shall a cargo container be placed in any required parking space, loading zone, drive aisle, easement or landscaped area. The top of any cargo container shall not exceed a height of 10 feet as measured from abutting level land either on-site or off-site. No stacking of cargo containers shall be allowed. No storage of materials on top of cargo containers shall be allowed.

2.

Cargo containers in the CO zoning district.

a.

Cargo containers may be allowed in the CO zoning district only when incidental to the allowed use for a church, synagogue or other structure used for religious worship, school, or hospital on the site.

b.

Cargo containers shall either be considered as part of a development permit application, or added to a developed site with a Zoning Clearance, subject to the following provisions:

(1)

Use. A cargo container shall be used only for the storage of supplies, equipment, or other materials incidental to the approved primary land use on the site.

(2)

Location. In no instance shall a cargo container be placed in any required parking space, loading zone, drive aisle, easement, or landscaped area. No cargo container may be located closer than 20 feet from any side or rear property line adjacent to residentially zoned property.

(3)

Limitations. The top of any cargo container shall not exceed a height of 10 feet as measured from abutting level land either on-site or off-site. No stacking of cargo containers shall be allowed. No storage of materials on top of cargo containers shall be allowed.

E.

Standards for industrial zoning districts. The following standards shall apply to the LI and GI zoning districts, except as otherwise provided for in these regulations. Cargo containers shall either be considered as part of a development permit application, or added to a developed site with a Zoning Clearance, subject to the following provisions:

1.

Allowed only in rear of principal structure. Cargo containers shall only be located within the following areas of the site:

a.

LI zoning district. Cargo containers in the LI zoning district shall only be allowed in the area to the rear of the principal structure, or the rear two-thirds of the site, whichever would be more restrictive; and

b.

GI zoning district. Cargo containers in the GI zoning district shall only be allowed to the rear of a line which is an extension of the front wall of the principal structure.

2.

Use. A cargo container shall be used only for the storage of supplies, inventory, or equipment incidental to the approved primary nonresidential land use on the site. A cargo container shall not be used or occupied as office, sales, retail distribution, or manufacturing space, or for vehicle parking, and may not be leased for use by any off-premises person, business, organization, or other entity.

3.

Location. Cargo containers may be allowed only in those zoning districts and locations which allow open storage, except as provided in Section 9-44.110 (Outdoor storage).

4.

Limitations. Cargo containers shall conform to the maximum height, minimum setback, and minimum distance between structure requirements of the zoning district in which they are located. In no instance shall a cargo container be placed in any required parking space, loading zone, drive aisle, easement, or landscaped area. The top of any cargo container shall not exceed a height of 10 feet as measured from abutting level land either on-site or off-site. No stacking of cargo containers shall be allowed. No storage of materials on top of cargo containers shall be allowed.

(Amended during 3-07 supplement)