Officials look to regulate shipping containers

TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. » Town Board members are reviewing a proposed law that will prohibit use of storage and shipping containers while limiting use of portable moving containers to no more than 30 days over a 12-month period in the R-10 zoning district.

The draft regulation was discussed last week during a public hearing that did not attract any comments from property owners.

“The issue with storage containers in (the R-10 district) is that there is usually inadequate setbacks on small lots and these storage containers which originally start out to be temporary turn out to be permanent and impact the adjacent property owners,” Supervisor James Quigley said.

Under the regulations shipping containers are defined as pre-fabricated, movable unit structures designed for containing bulk goods in transit on ships, trains, and trucks.

“A temporary permit for a shipping container may be obtained from the code enforcement officer for containers used ancillary to a project with a valid residential building permit,” officials wrote. “A temporary permit may allow placement of a container at a residential building site for up to 180 days for temporary storage after the building permit is issued.

“The temporary permit cannot be extended.”

Shipping containers would be allowed in all other zoning district on properties were there is a active building permit.

“A temporary permit may allow placement of a container at a building site for up to two years for temporary storage after the building permit is issued,” officials wrote. “The temporary placement permit may be extended up to an additional 180 days by the code enforcement officer.”

Written comments will be accepted until June 18 at Ulster Town Hall, 1 Town Hall Drive, Lake Katrine, NY 12449.