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Woodstock planning commission approves shipping‑container accessory at Red Mill Tavern, with conditions
Summary
The Woodstock Planning Commission on Jan. 15 approved a special‑use permit allowing an accessory structure made from shipping containers at Red Mill Tavern, 10 Bullion Lake Ave., contingent on meeting building and life‑safety codes, limiting uses to submitted plans, and matching the principal building’s exterior materials.
The Woodstock Planning Commission voted Jan. 15 to approve a special‑use permit allowing an accessory structure made from shipping containers at Red Mill Tavern, 10 Bullion Lake Avenue, subject to conditions on materials, permitted uses and life‑safety compliance.
The commission’s approval follows a continued public hearing and testimony from petitioner Niko Kenick Harris, who said he would modify the containers’ appearance to better match the tavern. “We will not store any gravel in there,” Harris said when commissioners raised concerns about the structure’s use and appearance.
Commissioners and staff focused discussion on the structure’s look and how it would be used. Commissioner Pollock reiterated a prior objection to using shipping containers as building elements, saying zoning historically has not allowed that use: “There’s a reason that the storage containers are not allowed to be used in this manner or fashion in any zoning classification in the city,” he said. Harris and his business partner, who self‑identified in the record as Lindsay Stratofloro, told the commission they could add barn wood and other façade treatments to align the accessory structure with the principal building.
Staff’s recommended approval included conditions that the accessory structure comply with all building and life‑safety requirements, that the exterior match the materials of the principal structure to the greatest extent practicable as determined by the building director, and that the structure be limited to uses depicted in the submitted documents. The commission adopted staff findings of fact and approved the special‑use permit by roll call vote.
The petitioner must submit exterior material samples for staff review and obtain any required building permits before work begins. The commission’s action was a recommendation-level approval consistent with the city’s land‑use review process; implementation depends on the petitioner meeting the listed conditions and any required permitting steps.
