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Board hears questions about shipping container placement and legality
Summary
Neighbors questioned the placement of a shipping container on the Arthur property; the township zoning officer said containers are permitted as accessory structures if within setbacks and with an updated site plan, but the container’s current placement was unlawful and must be moved or removed.
Several neighbors and board members asked whether a shipping container on the Arthur property was lawful and where it would be placed relative to the proposed garage.
The township zoning officer explained that shipping containers are treated as accessory structures and must meet building setbacks and accessory‑structure rules. He said the container's current location is unlawful, but the permit application submitted by the applicant showed the container in a lawful location—if the applicant files an updated site plan that places it within the dashed lines on the plan. "The shipping container is a lawful use," the zoning officer stated, "the permit as it's placed in a lawful location." Arthur said his permit shows the container would be about 60 feet off the back of the property in the proposed position and that with landscaping it would be difficult to see from neighboring homes.
Neighbors expressed concern about visibility from back yards and loss of green space. The board's motion to grant the variance included a condition requiring removal of the current shipping container within 30 days of final inspection and prohibited any additional shipping container on the property.
