DALTON, Mass. — The Planning Board will be reviewing a proposed bylaw that would require a special permit for storage containers in a residential zone. 

 

The board briefly discussed the proposed bylaw that is in the very early stages. More in-depth discussions will take place during future meetings. 

 

During the development of proposed bylaws, the board holds public hearings to gather input from the community. Then it goes to town meeting for a vote. 

 

"There's currently a number of storage containers in town which are not permitted. This would basically require getting a permit and restrict the time that the container could be kept," said Dennis Croughwell, Planning Board clerk. 

 

This bylaw is specifically targeting shipping containers that are used as storage, he said. 

 

If approved, the building inspector would be tasked to issue a permit to allow the applicant to temporarily have a storage container on their property.  

 

The container is restricted to a maximum of 20-by-10-by-10 feet and may not be maintained on wheels. Applicants are restricted to one unit, unless otherwise authorized by the building inspector, for no longer than four months, with one two-month extension.

 

In cases where there are more than one storage containers, each unit is separately permitted. 

 

Select Board member Jarred Mongeon and resident Jimbo Doucette expressed concerns surrounding situations where a resident may need one or two storage containers for long periods of time to address emergencies, such as flooding or an oil spill in the basement. 

 

Croughwell explained that the bylaw doesn’t restrict people from having storage containers; rather just requires they have a permit.

 

Board member Donald Davis Jr. also questioned whether this bylaw would affect those who purchase storage containers and add siding to match the architecture of the main building. 

 

Croughwell said the bylaw would not restrict that but would require the resident to get a permit, which would be renewed annually.

 

Davis said he is not a fan of requiring that the permit be renewed annually for those who apply for the permit to have a shed. 

 

He believed that in cases like this, the homeowner would only have the unit approved once and not to require a renewal. 

 

According to the proposal the purpose of this bylaw would be to standardize, reusable, portable, or transferable, enclosed metal units which are placed separately from the main structure to provide storage space for permitted uses. 

 

The fee for the storage container would be set by the Select Board or their designee. 

 

The containers would also have to abide by the town’s zoning bylaws, including the setbacks. 

 

Additionally, it must not occupy or hinder active parking or traffic circulation areas and be located in areas not visible from roadways. The units also have to be properly maintained to not create an eyesore.