The commission spent a substantial portion of the Jan. 14 work session discussing intermodal storage containers in residential areas and potential code changes to prevent permanent placement.

Staff presented findings that many complaints within city limits stem from unpermitted containers used as permanent storage; the International Building Code treats an unmodified intermodal container as a cargo unit rather than an accessory structure. Staff proposed amending accessory structure note 7 to (1) clarify accessory building square‑foot limits (1,800 sq. ft. baseline, with incremental increases per additional tenth acre), (2) explicitly state intermodal storage containers are not permitted as accessory structures in RR, R1, R2, R3, RMH and DC for periods greater than 30 days, and (3) allow short‑term use (moving/unloading) for up to 30 days.

Commissioners raised practical questions about enforcement (complaint‑driven vs. proactive), whether to include ETZ, size and quantity limits, paint/aesthetic requirements, and whether to grandfather existing containers. Staff noted enforcement would be handled through code enforcement and municipal remedies including fines and abatement. Commissioners asked staff to return with refined language, including potential limits for RR districts and permit thresholds for larger containers.

Next steps: staff to refine amendment language, consider optional aesthetics or permit thresholds, and return to the commission for further work‑session review.

Provenance: staff presentation and commissioners’ discussion and public comments in the work session.