01-20-2000 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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Planning & Zoning Comm~n February 17, 2000 Shipping Containers Zoning Ordinance Amendment Page 2 of 3 accessory buildings should be eliminated completely. The use of shipping containers as temporary, material storage facilities at construction sites should be allowed to continue in all zoning districts except the three residential zones (R-1, R-2, and R-3). Setbacks -Outside storage of shipping containers should adhere to the minimum setbacks already established for the HI zone of Front-50', Reaz-50', and Side-30'. In addition, when HI zoning districts are adjacent to residential inning districts, setbacks of Front-100', Reaz-150', and Side-150' are already stipulated by the ordinance and should apply to outside storage of shipping containers as well. It should be noted that other outside storage activities could occur (i.e. trucks, trailers, equipment, etc.). There is already setback criteria for this other outside storage which is Front-20', Rear-10', and Side-5'. It is recommended that this particular provision of the ordinance not change. The setbacks for shipping containers used for material storage at construction sites should follow the criteria already established within the relevant zoning district. Landscaping /Screening -Shipping container developments should be screened from view from the public right-of--way as currently stated in the zoning ordinance. However, a more effective technique needs to be employed that actually achieves this objective. This could be accomplished in a number of different ways. 1) the property owner could leave in place existing trees, vegetation, underbrush, etc. to provide a thorough and effective visual screening of the shipping container development. 2) the property owner could use earthen berms with a combination of trees, shrubs, and groundcover that after 3 years growth will be at least 20 feet in height and creates a continuous visual screen. 3) the property owner could develop a screening plan that would be approved by the City that includes a combination of trees, shrubs, and groundcover that after 3 yeazs growth will be at least 20 feet in height and creates a continuous visual screen. For shipping container developments the frontage of the development along with a portion of the side yard areas should utilize one of the listed options. The side yazd portion might be limited to the first 50' beyond the required front yazd azea. It should be noted that any required screening be adjusted away from overhead power lines to allow for the full maturity of the trees without unnecessary trimming or topping of the trees. Along with the screening requirement, a minimum percentage of landscaping should be stipulated within the ordinance. 6% is recommended to be consistent with current requirements in industrial and commercial zoning districts. The required screening would count toward the minimum landscaping requirement. Mazimum Height -Shipping containers come in a wide variety of lengths but most aze fabricated to be between 8-1/2' and 9' in height. Shipping containers should be stacked no more than 4 high which results in an overall height of