Board approves temporary allowance for construction shipping containers at 1201 Beck Avenue

The Cody Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board on Aug. 13 unanimously approved a special exemption allowing Sletten Construction to store two to three shipping containers for up to two years at 1201 Beck Avenue during construction.

Mark (city staff) told the board the general development standards do not permit a container or storage yard in the downtown zone and that the company requested a temporary special exemption to store materials and equipment while they build on Sheridan. Staff recommended approving the exemption with findings that services and infrastructure are adequate and the containers would be temporary.

At a public, on-the-record discussion, board members questioned where containers would sit, whether parking requirements would be affected and what screening would look like. Applicant Katie Biss (Slutten Construction) said the perimeter will include a solid-color mesh windscreen and that the site can accommodate two containers with an option to use a relocated parking space for a third. “So the windscreen was previously submitted … with our typical windscreen has our logos all over it, so we knew we couldn't use that anymore because that violates the advertising or banner code. So then we went with just a solid color windscreen that will take up the entire fence and go around,” Biss said.

Board members expressed mixed views about the screening’s color and visibility; one member called a six-foot red screen an "eyesore" for two years, while others said screening improves the streetscape compared with exposed chain link and containers. Chair and staff noted the exemption request pertains to the use of Connex containers; the code does not explicitly regulate the color of temporary screening.

Josh (board member) moved to approve the special exemption adopting staff findings 1–4 and to allow two to three containers for no more than two years; Matt (board member) seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The approval is conditioned by the board’s findings and limited to the two-year period specified; the applicant and staff discussed screening and parking configurations as part of the record. The board did not attach a condition limiting screen color; members said code does not clearly grant authority to regulate color, though they discussed asking the applicant to alter screening if it proved disruptive.

The board proceeded to the next agenda items following the vote.