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Board allows 11‑month temporary placement of 40‑ft shipping container at lakeside lot
Summary
After neighbor complaints about debris and upkeep, the Noble County BZA granted Jason Harris an 11‑month temporary use variance to keep a 40‑ft shipping container on lot 9 at 7817 East Lake Drive, with cleanup and permit follow‑up required.
The Noble County Board of Zoning Appeals granted an 11‑month temporary use variance to Jason Harris to keep a 40‑foot shipping container on his lakeside lot at 7817 East Lake Drive.
Staff presented a history of complaints about the container and related site debris, noted photographs and comment cards filed with the application, and said the container had been moved onto lot 9 so the county could accept a formal petition. Several written comment cards and in‑person remonstrators expressed concern about debris in the water, septic compliance questions and the general condition of the parcel.
Jason Harris told the board he is in the middle of a divorce, had torn down a condemned house on an adjacent lot, and moved the container to lot 9 to temporarily store his belongings while he rebuilds. He said he expected the divorce to be final by July and that his plan was to build a house on the neighboring lot and remove the container as part of that process.
Neighbors who spoke raised concerns about visible debris in the water, the presence of boats and inoperative vehicles, low assessed taxes on the property, and skepticism that the container and other items would be removed within the requested time frame. One neighbor said the community had recently repaired streets and valued neighborhood appearance; others flagged potential health department issues and possible boundary setbacks if a new dwelling is built.
After hearing testimony and reading the findings required by the Unified Development Ordinance and Indiana code, the board voted to grant the variance for a temporary period of 11 months, with conditions that the property be made presentable, that the owner comply with building‑department and health‑department requirements, and that failure to comply would result in zoning enforcement action. The board emphasized follow‑up and enforcement: staff will require evidence of cleanup and may escalate to notices or legal action if conditions are not met.
The temporary approval gives the applicant time to complete the personal and permitting steps he described; the board directed staff to monitor compliance during the permit and enforcement process.
