City ponders bulk, mini storage in rural zones

PONDERAY — The city is considering amending its land use code to allow rental warehouses, boat, recreational vehicle and mini storage facilities its rural zones.

The city’s planning commission is taking up the proposed code amendment during a public hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 8. The hearing starts at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall.

Bill Wilson of the Wilson Trust is seeking the code amendment to provide an opportunity for those uses in areas with a rural zoning designation.

Special uses already allowed in rural zones include golf courses, athletic facilities, mobile home parks and multiple-family dwellings, according to the city’s code.

Under the proposed code amendment, a minimum of 5 acres is required for bulk or mini storage facilities. A 300-foot setback from arterial routes, although that buffer can be reduced to 150 feet if there is adequate screening. Other design standards include capping the storage-use of a parcel at 35 percent, building exteriors which are consistent with other buildings being used for agricultural purposes and a 25-foot landscaped buffer encircling the site.

The storage units cannot be used for industrial or retail purposes, such as repair, service and sales, according to the draft language.

Project documents can be downloaded in a portable document format here: cityofponderay.org/file-am18-016-zoning-text-amendment-rural-storage/

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.