New Richmond council approves zoning amendments, limits long-term use of shipping containers in residential areas

The New Richmond City Council approved Ordinance 6-15, a package of zoning code amendments that clarifies definitions and adds standards for several topics, including temporary use of shipping/storage containers in residential neighborhoods, landscaping for internal parking lots, dumpster siting, and the Historic Preservation Overlay District review process.

Staff said the amendments are mostly targeted clarifications: defining when shipping containers may be used temporarily (for example, moving pods) and limiting their presence to short-term events rather than permanent storage. "The intention is…someone may rent one because they're moving, but it shouldn't just become a third garage that sits out on the street," staff said. The ordinance also refines which building-permit-level changes require Historic Preservation Commission review and which are staff-level maintenance items.

The planning commission had reviewed the edits at its Oct. 1 meeting and recommended approval; staff presented a redline and clean copy to the council. A motion to approve Ordinance 6-15 passed on roll call.