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Emily council directs moratorium study on shipping containers, upholds Planning Commission shoreline decision
Summary
The council directed publication of a public hearing notice for an interim moratorium on the use of steel storage containers as buildings and upheld the Planning Commission's decision requiring the removal of 75 feet of asphalt path at a Ruth Lake property, citing lake protection and precedent concerns.
At the Nov. 12 meeting the Emily City Council directed publication of a public hearing notice for an interim ordinance establishing a moratorium on the use of steel storage containers as buildings, storage sheds or dwellings while the Planning Commission studies appropriate regulations. Planning Commission Chair Patrick Rheaume explained the issue is complex because some residents have placed containers on their property while others need temporary storage during construction; the moratorium would give the commission up to one year to craft an ordinance before the next construction season.
The council also heard an appeal from property owners of 41274 Hopper Drive (PID 21220553) who had installed an asphalt path toward the shoreline. The Planning Commission had denied a variance and required removal of 75 feet of the path to comply with the city ordinance that prohibits improvements within 75 feet of the shoreline. The property owners requested a compromise to remove only 20–25 feet; they said the pathway was intended to improve access for people with physical disabilities. The council discussed accessibility concerns but concluded allowing paved surfaces to extend to the shoreline would set an undesirable precedent and voted to uphold the Planning Commission’s decision.
Chair Rheaume also reported the Planning Commission accepted a lakeshore revegetation plan from a property owner on Roosevelt Drive and that the commission will hold public hearings in December on a proposed Food Truck Ordinance and a Cannabis Businesses Ordinance amendment. The council directed the City Attorney to send an enforcement letter to owners of two Trout Lake parcels (PIDs 21330545 and 21330546) requiring shoreline restoration following boathouse demolition after prior certified-mail notices went unanswered.
All motions related to the moratorium notice publication, the variance appeal, and the enforcement letter were adopted on recorded roll-call votes of Jones, Brennan, Hanson, Hemphill and Koch voting aye.
