02-17-2005 Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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• • Staff Report March 17, 2005 Shipping Containers Zoning Ordinance Amendment Background: This review is being conducted in accordance with the Section 106-64(11) of the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 106) of the City of La Porte. It requires the Planning and Zoning Commission to recommend any change or modification of the Zoning Ordinance to determine whether the Ordinance has become deficient, obsolete, and inadequate for any reason. Staff proposed this amendment as requested by the First United Methodist Church & Life Community Church located along Fairmont Parkway (letter attached). Currently, both the churches are in the midst of major commercial building projects and need the containers for storage of construction material and tools: Existing Requirement: Shipping Containers may be used as temporary material storage facilities on construction sites in all zoning districts except residential (R-1, R-2, and R-3). Proposed Requirement: Shipping Containers may be used as temporary material storage facilities on construction sites in all zoning districts except residential (R-1, R-2, and R-3). In addition, commercial construction allowed in residential zoning districts may use shipping containers as temporary material storage facilities. (Note: Certificate of Occupancy shall not be issued until shipping container is removed from the site.) Staff recommends that the Planning and Zoning Commission forward their official position for action by City Council the amendment to Section 106- 751 of the Code of Ordinances. Staff s opinion is that the intent of the current zoning ordinance was to allow temporary use of shipping containers at commercial construction sites and views the exclusion of this use by commercial construction sites in residential zones as an oversight. Actions available to the Commission are as follows: • Conduct public hearing. • Recommend approval of the above amendment, • Recommend denial of the amendment • Continue the public hearing until next meeting.