Planning commission debates Connex (shipping container) rules, asks staff to redraft ordinance

The Morgan County Planning Commission spent much of its work session discussing a proposed ordinance to regulate portable storage containers, commonly called "Connex" or shipping containers, and directed staff to prepare a revised draft.

"We're gonna be talking about the Connex boxes for the most part," a staff member said as the item began, signaling the focus of the discussion on setbacks, size, and appearances. Planning staff noted the state recently added an exception for some shipping‑container storage under the building code and said the county needs a local code that addresses location, aesthetic requirements and permit paths.

Commissioners and staff debated several substantive points: whether preexisting containers would be grandfathered; whether containers should be permitted only in rear yards; how to tie the county code to the state square‑footage standard (effective July 1); and whether to limit the number of containers by lot size. "It's storage only," a planning commissioner or staff member said while emphasizing that containers should not be habitable or used as primary workspaces.

Participants also discussed a construction‑use exception (temporary on‑site containers for active construction), enforcement tools such as time limits for permits, and owner‑requested screening or color standards to reduce visual impacts. Commissioners suggested a use table tied to lot size so large agricultural parcels could have different allowances than small residential lots.

Next steps: staff will rework the draft ordinance to incorporate a use table, clarify the relationship to state statute and square‑foot thresholds, and refine enforceability language for aesthetics and temporary permits before returning to the commission for another review.