A decision on a plan to nail down a new zoning bylaw to regulate the use of trailers and shipping containers for storage in this township has been deferred until county planner Linda Redmond has an opportunity to deal with questions arising from the proposed “housekeeping” bylaw.
“The purpose and effect of the proposed amendment is to provide provisions within the zoning bylaw to allow and regulate the use of trailers, seacans and shipping containers or other similar structures, on commercial, industrial and large agricultural properties,” Mayor Ray Tout said of the bylaw at the Aug. 12 council meeting.
“This is a township-initiated ‘housekeeping’ amendment to the comprehensive zoning bylaw. The zoning bylaw currently does not have any provisions in place to regulate these types of structures.”
In particular the revised bylaw proposes a limit of three storage containers on parcels of land of 25 acres or larger. Adding more containers would require a new set of requirements including a site plan. Redmond said the three container limit is based on survey regulations adopted by other municipalities.
“At the end of the day what the bylaw will allow is shipping containers, seacans and trailers for accessory use,” Redmond told council.
Properties already legally exceeding the number of storage containers would be allowed to continue to have them and would be “grandfathered” into the new regulations provided they have met prior legal requirements, the planner said.
“When you have new regulations, any use that existed legally will continue to operate as legal, non-conforming,” Redmond said.
She told council the proposed regulations would not apply to building sites where contractors might bring in more than three containers to use for storage as part of a construction plan.
Residential properties are not affected by the proposed regulations.
Resident Gerald (Shep) Sheptunko, who is a member of the township’s economic development committee, raised concerns about the wording of the proposed bylaw, specifically looking at the terminology of the containers and seacans. He also questioned whether the new regulations would apply to licenced vehicles parked on properties.
Redmond explained the terminology was used to “capture” all types of containers in the new bylaw.
“It would not apply to licenced vehicles that fall under other regulations,” Redmond said.
Sheptunko asked whether the new regulations would apply to wind turbine operations which might use storage containers to house equipment. Wellington North is currently in discussions with a wind turbine company looking to set up in the township and neighbouring Southgate.
“That would not apply to the regulations,” Redmond said.
Mayor Ray Tout pointed out the regulations, when approved, would apply only to properties where storage containers are planned.
“Anything new from here on you’re going to be under the new rules,” Tout said.
Sheptunko also asked whether the new regulations would apply to three containers welded together as one and whether they would be considered three containers or one container.
“It’s a building code issue,” Redmond responded.
“To me it’s a clarification issue,” Sheptunko said.
Tout suggested Sheptunko forward his concerns to the planner to be considered.
Arthur-area businessman Wayne Baker also questioned the regulations limiting three containers and claimed container use was not being abused in the township.
“These containers are a viable means of providing quick storage,” he said. “I’m not seeing a lot of abuse in Wellington North.”
Tout said the proposed regulations would limit the possibility of abuse.
Council decided to defer the bylaw until the planner has an opportunity to deal with questions raised.
