The Town of Nashville council on Sept. 2 held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to allow shipping containers in certain commercial and industrial zones and to revise setback and outdoor storage standards in industrial (I-1) zoning.

The proposal would allow shipping containers as accessory structures in B-1 (commercial) and I-1 (industrial) districts if they meet accessory-structure standards, the town's buffer chart and accessory-building section 18-54. It would also reduce the I-1 perimeter setback from 50 feet to 25 feet, remove an 8-foot minimum fence requirement and eliminate a 50% outdoor storage cap in I-1, allowing full-lot storage within a 25-foot perimeter setback. "Don't put me out of business because if I can't show it, I can't sell it," said Chris Sandy, owner of Build Right Supply, during public comment.

Business owners and other speakers told council they use containers for display, secure storage and construction purposes; one letter read into the record came from Allen Nims, fire chief of the Centerville Volunteer Fire Department, praising local supplier Bill Wright Supplies for selling containers used in fire training. Several residents and some council members said the draft ordinance had ambiguities they wanted fixed, such as front-yard placement, stacking of containers, and how the proposed accessory-structure rules would be enforced. A town staff presentation noted the planning board had recommended the ordinance to council after a public hearing.

Council member Kate said the draft contained discrepancies and asked for clearer language on front-yard placement and stacking. Another council member said the ordinance had come back too quickly after previous discussion and asked for more outreach to businesses and residents. After public comment, a council member moved that the council "take no action" and continue the earlier plan to contact businesses and constituents and craft an ordinance with staff and the town attorney; the motion passed by voice vote with the mayor saying, "Motion carries."

Council members and staff emphasized that existing containers already in place would have to meet any new standards if adopted; staff said the ordinance as proposed would not grandfather in units outside the rules without compliance. Screening requirements discussed included a 6-foot privacy fence (treated or composite material approved by the zoning administrator) and vegetative screening (one tree every 25 feet and one shrub every 10 feet with a 15-foot width for buffer reductions). Council did not adopt the ordinance and directed staff to continue stakeholder discussions and redraft the language to address the identified ambiguities.