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Council hears proposal for temporary outdoor storage of Tesla Megapacks; staff says conditional‑use permit required
Summary
Representatives from the Logistics/Logisticus inquiry sought guidance on temporary outdoor storage (6–7 months) of Tesla Megapack battery units in Thomasville; town staff said a conditional‑use permit through the planning commission would be required and suggested the applicant provide details on quantities and safety plans.
Council members heard a manager report on a request from the Logisticus group asking for guidance on temporary outdoor storage of uninstalled Tesla Megapack battery units at a Thomasville site. The manager described the units as in original shipping containers, not energized or interconnected, and said the projected timeframe was six to seven months.
The manager advised that such storage would require a conditional‑use permit (CUP) and recommended the applicant apply to the planning commission with specific details — including quantities and storage configuration — so the planning commission and council could weigh safety, timing and any possible time limits on a permit. "They are not interconnected. They're not energized. They're not commissioned. They're not providing power," the manager said, characterizing the units as stored in manufacturing packaging.
Council members expressed safety concerns (potential fire/contamination risk) and asked that the planning commission consider appropriate conditions (for example, limits on duration or quantity) and consult with fire and emergency responders; staff noted the fire department and county partners would need to be involved. The manager said the planning commission review and a CUP application would provide a forum for the applicant to supply hard numbers and for the town to impose time or quantity limits if appropriate.
No formal decision was made; staff will advise the applicant that a conditional‑use application is required and that the planning commission will review any submitted proposal.
