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North Fond du Lac Plan Commission recommends ban on steel shipping containers in residential yards
Summary
At its Jan. 14 meeting the Plan Commission voted 6-0 to recommend that the Village Board approve Ordinance O-2025-01, which would revise Section 21.12(1)(d) to prohibit steel shipping containers as temporary or permanent accessory structures in the village; the recommendation now goes to the Village Board for final action.
The Village of North Fond du Lac Plan Commission on Jan. 14 recommended that the Village Board adopt Ordinance O-2025-01 to revise Section 21.12(1)(d) of the zoning code and explicitly prohibit the use of steel shipping containers as temporary or permanent accessory structures.
Zoning Administrator Peter Fetters told the commission he had received several resident requests during the prior year about using shipping containers for storage. Fetters said the presence of steel shipping containers in the nearby Town of Friendship on Prospect Avenue had generated local interest and that the City of Fond du Lac (citing FDL 720-31-(B)) and the city of Oshkosh prohibit residential use of such containers. "I wanted to clearly spell out the prohibition of steel shipping containers in the ordinance for residents," Fetters said.
Commissioner Brandon Switz moved to recommend approval of Ordinance O-2025-01 and Village President Mike Streetar seconded. The commission voted 6-0 to carry the recommendation, with Trustee Mike Will recorded as excused.
The ordinance change would amend accessory-use standards to make explicit that steel shipping containers are not allowed as storage structures for residential properties. Fetters framed the proposal as clarifying the existing code to avoid ad hoc or inconsistent uses and to align village rules with neighboring municipalities that already restrict container use.
The Plan Commission’s recommendation is advisory; the Village Board must hold its own consideration and vote before the ordinance would take effect. At the meeting Fetters also reported two previously adopted ordinances for the commission’s information: O-2024-07 (revising required open space), approved Sept. 16, 2024, and O-2024-08 (replacing Chapter 22, Floodplain Zoning), approved Oct. 7, 2024, both reported as having passed 5-0 at the Village Board hearings.
Other business at the Jan. 14 meeting included approval of the Aug. 13, 2024 minutes (motion by Commissioner Jim Livieri; second by Don Schneider; motion carried 6-0, Will excused) and a request from Chairperson Sherry Behnke that the village website be used to post updates such as housing units built, ordinance changes and timely news; Fetters said he would relay that request to administration. The meeting opened at 6:02 p.m. and adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
