Bylaw prohibiting storage containers in residential hamlets to receive further review

In an interview with CHAT News Today, Coun. Vossler said requesting proposals from staff and the commission would allow for a fair perspective on the issue, as opposed to continuing to ban them altogether.

“It’s a lot fairer than denying it completely. If we deny it completely it shows we aren’t looking at other options for people,” Vossler said.

And with the tiny home movement in full momentum, thanks to shows on TLC, Vossler noted storage containers can be used to construct other structures.

” You can build housing and shops and not necessarily have a storage container sitting there on your property storing just material. People are actually building pretty nice structures,”

But not all agree, including deputy reeve, Richard Oster.

“I feel that they do not belong in a backyard. To allow them to move in just opens up a whole can of worms for Cypress County to control and look acceptable.” he said.

“If someone gets a permit to get a garage or shed, they are going to put shingles on the roof or metal, they are going to do the sides, so you are going to have a finished product on the outside. If a sea-can comes on the site they’ll say ‘I need a few months to get it done’, and then that drags on and that drags on. I’m sure there will be some that do it right away but I think there will be more that will just do it when they get around to it,'” Oster said.

Oster put forward a motion at the beginning of discussions to keep the bylaw as is, but the motion was quashed by council.

The vote to revisit the bylaw came after the Municipal Planning Commission received a permit application from a resident in Suffield wanting to convert a storage container into a storage shed by using siding and a sloped roof.

by Tiffany Goodwein

Bylaw prohibiting storage containers in residential hamlets to receive further review

Our Community