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Business selling large storage containers prompts review of retail vs. wholesale zoning uses
Summary
A proposed business to sell large storage containers exposed a gap in Alton’s use table, prompting the zoning committee to consider whether to create a wholesale category, add a catch-all commercial use, or leave applicants to seek variances.
A local entrepreneur seeking to sell large storage containers revealed a gap in Alton’s table of permitted uses, prompting the Zoning Amendment Committee to flag the issue for further study.
Jesse MacAother briefed the committee on an applicant proposing to sell—rather than rent or store—large containers in town. "To find a use in our use table that fits that business, they're really, there's Jessica and I both looked and weren't able to find anything," MacAother said.
Committee members debated whether the activity is retail, wholesale, or another commercial classification. Paul Moncioni suggested that product-specific enumerations are undesirable: "Why would we start defining what the products are that are being sold, our list will go on and on, you know, from coffee cups to ice cream cones or whatever. I mean, it just seems Right. Why do we wanna be specific?" Doug Brown said a variance to the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) may be the practical path for an individual applicant who does not fit the current table of uses.
MacAother and committee members noted possible solutions: (1) identify an existing retail or wholesale category that fits container sales; (2) add a catch-all retail/wholesale category to the table of uses for occasional outlier businesses; or (3) require the individual applicant to seek a variance if the activity does not match an allowed use.
What happened: the committee did not adopt an ordinance change at the meeting but agreed to keep the item on the work list for further review. Members suggested staff compare the definitions and consider whether to add a distinct wholesale or "commercial - other" category so similar future proposals do not default to variances.
What it means: until the ordinance is clarified, applicants whose business models do not fit existing use categories may need to seek a variance from the ZBA on a case-by-case basis. The committee urged caution about adding overly specific product-based use listings and instead recommended a broader permitted-use category be considered.
Next steps: staff will review the table of uses and definitions, and bring options back to the committee for possible amendment or a recommended zoning interpretation.
