The third time was the charm for the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s attempts to develop regulations for temporary storage units.
With such brand names such as PODS, Boxcars or Pack Rat, the containers are rented by homeowners on a monthly basis. Many homeowners use them for temporary storage during remodeling projects. Others have flouted the idea of them being “temporary” and kept them sitting in front of their houses for months, upsetting their neighbors.
The commission has twice before conducted hearings about how best it might regulate the use of the containers but still allow reasonable use of them.
Planning commissioners generally accepted the recommendations of county planners and placed size and time limits on the containers.
The limits generally allow longer use of the containers for residents with larger lots. The commission reasoned that neighborhoods with larger lots have more space for the containers, and therefore they will not be as likely to adversely impact neighbors.
In townhouse or condo developments, the Planning Commission recommends a 130-square-foot size limit with a maximum of seven days during a six-month period.
In the case of a single-family detached home, the Planning Commission recommends the same size containers. Properties of up to 36,000 square feet (about 0.8 acres) could have the containers for 30 days during a six-month period. Larger lots could have the containers for up to 60 days in a six-month period.
At least one commissioner was concerned about how practical the regulations are. Jim Hart (At-large) wondered if the county might be creating a regulation that would be difficult to enforce. He noted other provisions in the Zoning Ordinance, such as a maximum front-yard fence height of 4 feet, which are routinely ignored by residents.
Commission Chair Peter Murphy (Springfield) said that it was time to act on the proposal. Murphy said the best way to know if it will work is to try the regulations and see what happens. County zoning officials are set to come back to the commission in two years with a report on the efficacy of the ordinance.
The plan must now go to the Board of Supervisors for a public hearing and final decision. A date has not been set.