Planning commission approves edits to cargo-container rules, forwards recommendation to city council

At its June 17, 2025 meeting, the City of Green River Planning Commission voted to approve edits to Title 10, Chapter 18 of the city code to clarify how the city will treat cargo containers, enclosed trailers and similar units used for on‑site storage. The commission voted to forward the edits to the City Council for final consideration at its July meeting.

The change instructs that enclosed trailers, truck bed boxes and railroad cars may be permitted for on‑site storage when they are removed from their transportation apparatus, painted a solid color, and meet all setbacks and other requirements spelled out in the chapter. The draft language also expressly excludes converted mobile homes, recreation vehicles, bus bodies and similar prefabricated vehicles or structures from classification as cargo containers for storage purposes.

Commission members and staff spent much of the meeting debating where the new language should appear in the code and how narrowly to define allowed and disallowed units. Planning staff said the proposal grew from a request to treat semi trailers removed from their axles the same way the code treats shipping containers. Staff proposed using the term “enclosed trailer” rather than attempting a single definition of “semi trailer,” to cover box trucks, cargo trailers and similar units when detached from their chassis.

Commissioners discussed alternative organization of the code language. Several members favored placing the new examples (enclosed trailers, truck boxes, railroad cars) under the cargo‑container section rather than under the accessory storage‑building definition, arguing that the items under discussion function as transportable containers rather than constructed sheds. Commissioners also pressed for simple, readable ordering: list what is allowed first, then list exclusions.

The commission agreed that items with windshields or windows that indicate a vehicle designed for habitation or transportation should generally be excluded from classification as cargo containers. The draft before the commission specified that anything with a glass windshield or windows “not specifically constructed for storage” should be excluded; converted mobile homes, RVs and bus bodies were listed as examples of items not considered cargo containers.

A motion to approve the edits as presented was moved by Tanya McLeod and seconded by Ken Johnson. The roll call on the motion recorded aye votes and the commission agreed to forward the recommendation to the City Council; the City Council is scheduled to review the item at its July 8 meeting. Staff indicated the redline grammar and formatting changes would be completed before the packet is sent to council.

Final adoption of the changes to Title 10, Chapter 18 will depend on City Council action; the planning commission’s vote was a recommendation to council, not a final ordinance adoption.