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CRA recommends council review of long-term outdoor storage container rules
Summary
The Cape Coral CRA voted to ask city council to consider placing long-term outdoor storage container enforcement and potential ordinance changes on a committee agenda after staff said such containers are not allowed by city code but short-term 30-day permits (two per 12 months) exist.
The Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency voted Jan. 14 to recommend that the City Council consider revisions or discussion of the city’s rules on long-term outdoor storage containers used by businesses in the CRA.
At the meeting, the Executive Director told commissioners that the city has hired a code officer to increase enforcement in the redevelopment area and that “outdoor storage containers are not allowed in the city by land, under the city's code,” though business owners can obtain two 30‑day permits in a 12‑month period for short-term needs.
The Executive Director said some containers appear on Google Earth imagery dating back to about 2004 and that the city had not previously taken sustained enforcement action in some locations. The city attorney clarified the legal position: “merely because the city has not taken enforcement action, does not grandfather this provision,” and recommended the board refer any proposed change to a committee of the whole or regular council meeting for formal consideration.
Commissioners raised consistency and fairness concerns for long‑standing businesses that have relied on pods for storage, noting potential business impacts if enforcement is stepped up. Commissioner Donnell asked whether any safety complaints had been lodged and urged staff to consider carve‑outs only where safety is not an issue.
Commissioner Steinke moved that the CRA recommend the city council place the container/enforcement matter on the first available committee‑of‑the‑whole agenda for discussion or possible ordinance change. The motion was seconded and approved by roll-call/voice vote at the meeting.
Next steps: the CRA’s recommendation will be transmitted to the City Council for scheduling; if council wishes to amend the code it would require formal council action and ordinance drafting.
