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Council grants two‑year extension for storage containers, directs code review
Summary
After staff recommended denial, the Safford council voted to grant a two‑year variance extension allowing metal storage containers to remain at the Green property and asked staff to return with proposed code changes to address manufactured containers as a permitted use.
The Safford City Council on March 24 approved a two‑year extension to a prior variance so metal storage containers may remain on a C2‑zoned parcel owned by the Green family, setting a deadline for compliance and directing staff to draft potential code changes.
Staff told the board that Mr. Green had previously received a two‑year variance on Oct. 10, 2022 that has since expired and recommended denying any further variance because the application did not meet zoning variance criteria. Planning staff reviewed four criteria the Board of Adjustment must find satisfied to issue a variance and reported that public notice was provided to property owners within 300 feet. Several council members said they were sympathetic to the applicant's situation and noted the containers are not visible from the highway and that bids are in to construct a permanent metal building.
Nathan Green spoke at the podium on behalf of Mr. Green and said the family had bids from Ward Brothers Metals Construction for a metal building and expected a two‑year period would be sufficient to complete construction. After discussion, a council motion to grant a two‑year extension passed; one council member emphasized the extension should be accompanied by a staff review of the city code to determine whether manufactured or modular metal buildings should be an allowed permanent use in some commercial zones.
The motion recorded at the meeting authorized the two‑year extension and instructed staff to prepare options for potential amendments to Section 17.12.250 (metal storage containers) and related zoning language for future council consideration. The council did not adopt long‑term code changes at the meeting; staff will return with proposed language.
