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Planning commission recommends shipping containers for Kelly Park rink storage
Summary
At its April 14 meeting the Soda Springs Planning & Zoning Commission recommended the City Council approve a conditional use permit to place two 20-foot shipping containers at Kelly Park Ice Rink for on-site storage, after staff cited durability and a resident raised concerns about park appearance and ordinance compliance.
The Soda Springs Planning & Zoning Commission on April 14 recommended that the City Council approve a conditional use permit to place two 20-foot shipping containers at the Kelly Park Ice Rink, 325 Kelly Park Road, for storage of rink components.
Dan Squires, the city’s Director of City Services, told the commission the city purchased an ice rink that is assembled and removed annually. He said keeping the rink off-site and moving it each season damages the rink sides and liner, and that new, unmarked shipping containers on-site would offer more secure, durable storage and reduce handling-related wear.
During public comment resident Mike Nally said he did not believe a shipping container was an appropriate structure in a park and asked whether the proposal reflected convenience rather than forethought. He also questioned why the city would adopt an ordinance limiting containers and then appear not to follow its intent.
Chairman Charles Fryar responded by outlining the local history of restrictions on shipping containers, noting rules dating to the 1980s and Ordinance No. 683, adopted Feb. 1, 2023, which added Section 17.70 to the municipal code and requires a conditional use permit for containers over 10 feet. Fryar said the ordinance exists chiefly to ensure containers are properly maintained and painted so they do not appear rundown.
Commissioners asked operational questions, and members noted the proposed placement—two 20-foot containers side-by-side—would make it easier to meet setback requirements and would not be visible from Hooper Avenue/Highway 34. City Attorney Tom Smith reminded the commission to consider the conditional use criteria listed in Section 17.68.020 when making a recommendation.
Commissioner Stephen Simmons moved and Commissioner Chris Guedes seconded a recommendation that the City Council approve the conditional use permit for two 20-foot shipping containers at Kelly Park; the motion carried unanimously.
The commission also unanimously approved the March 10, 2026 meeting minutes, agreed to postpone review of Chapter 14 of the municipal code until the May meeting to ensure broader attendance, and then adjourned. The City Council will receive the commission’s recommendation at a future meeting.
