Howard County hearing held on conditional use for shipping containers at Mount Airy property

Howard County hearing officer Diane Berg heard testimony April 16, 2025 on application BA24023c, an application by Christopher McCoy for a conditional use to retain three shipping containers on his 4.11-acre property in Mount Airy.

McCoy, the petitioner and property owner, said he originally had 14 containers and removed 11 after a zoning violation; he testified the remaining three are used for storage and one houses a rabbitry. "So, yeah, currently, as it stands, I have 3 shipping containers on the property," McCoy said. He told the hearing the containers are within setbacks, screened from adjoining properties and the public road, and located in a largely agricultural area where nearby properties include horse farms and a bulk firewood business.

The hearing officer summarized the applicable conditional-use criteria and technical-staff findings and said she agreed in part with staff. "I've gone through…