Committee OKs seasonal-storage category, limits placement to 180 days and adds 10-foot setback

The Business and Economic Development Committee approved amendments to the city's temporary-storage rules that create a new "seasonal storage" use and change how temporary storage is regulated.

Planning Officer Anya Collette told the committee the proposed seasonal category would cover storage units placed on a site for part of the year (for example summer or fall) and removed the rest of the year; seasonal units would be limited to 180 days per placement and would not be allowed in residential zones or flood-hazard areas. Collette also said staff propose moving temporary-storage approvals from a work-appeals process to issuance of a certificate of occupancy and removing subjective aesthetic and screening standards that were effectively permanent requirements for a temporary use.

Members pressed staff on duration and enforcement: Collette confirmed an initial temporary-storage authorization remains one year with the possibility of a one-year extension, while the new seasonal category could return year after year but only be present 180 days at a time. Staff noted that code prevents exceeding building-coverage maximums and that attempts to stack seasonal and temporary approvals to create indefinite placement would be subject to code review.

The committee agreed to add a 10-foot setback from property lines for seasonal units to address neighbor visibility concerns. A motion to approve the amended item passed in a roll-call vote with recorded ‘yes’ votes from Councilors Falloon, Fish, Mallard and Carson.

What’s next: Staff will finalize ordinance language reflecting the 10-foot setback and the certificate-of-occupancy approval path and forward the amended item to the next council step.