After an hour-long third-and-final reading Tuesday at the Riverton City Council meeting, the councilmembers determined that shipping containers would not be allowed to be placed within a Riverton residential area.
Riverton Community Development Director Eric Carr submitted the following recommendation in writing before the councilmembers and Mayor Gard discussed the issue for the third time.
The community development director, Eric P. Carr, P.E. cannot recommend approval of Ordinance 19-
001 as presented for 3rd reading based on health, safety, and welfare concerns related to allowing shipping
containers in residential zoning. This position comes after additional research and, more specifically,
examination of the findings and recommendations contained in the Fire Chiefs Association of British
Columbia Position Paper (attached), which provides analyses of two catastrophic events involving
explosions of shipping containers.
The ability to control the contents of a shipping container is tenuous at best. This is true in other less
restrictive zoning as well; however, those zones inherently have a higher risk tolerance. Residential
zoning is universally the least risk tolerant of all zoning, and should be treated as such. Even with
regulation, it would be impossible to prevent hazardous materials from being stored within them;
dramatically increasing the probability of an event that would negatively impact the health, safety, and
welfare of surrounding properties.
During a public forum, 5 community residents each addressed the council with concerns they had over containers. Some expressed safety concerns, while others said that aesthetically the containers would not be suitable for a residential area.
After public comments and more council discussion, Councilwoman Rebecca Schatza and Mayor Rich Gard indicated they would like to table the discussion for a work session, to gather additional information.
Councilman Tim Hancock announced he opposed the decision to table, saying those in attendance “deserve an answer right now.”
Councilmembers Karla Borders and Kyle Larson also voted to not table the discussion and vote on the ordinance Tuesday.
Larson, Borders, and Hancock voted against the containers in residential areas. Meanwhile, Councilwoman Schatza and Mayor Gard voted to approve the containers in residential areas.
The measure failed 3-2. Councilman Mike Bailey was not in attendance.
Language in the original proposal states that a citizen still can ask the City of Riverton for a temporary shipping container permit, for no more than 180 days, if the reason for having one is accepted by the City.
The entire City Council meeting can be seen below. The shipping container discussion runs roughly from the 12:00 mark to the 1:08 minute-mark.
