Residents must now get permits
The Glenville Town Board unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday, Aug. 18, requiring residents to obtain permits to use portable storage devices.
Before the resolution, the town lacked any way to regulate the containers, which Town Supervisor Christopher Koetzle said were popping up throughout town.
It appeared to be an opportunity for residents to avoid property zoning procedures, said Koetzle. `[Portable storage containers] show up and don’t have to comply with any town standards like sheds do. They’re ugly and they contribute to blight in a neighborhood.`
Residents must now obtain a permit from the Town Building Inspector and pay any associated fees. Each permit lasts for 30 days. A resident cannot obtain more than 90 days in a 12-month period. Only one portable storage unit will be allowed per residential property. Also, units are required to be 10 feet from and property lines, and units within a driveway must be placed at the furthest possible point from the street while maintaining access to any surrounding buildings or structures.
Owners of a human and social service offices within nonresidential zoning areas can also apply for a 30-day permit not exceeding the same 90-day maximum limit. The building inspector will determine the amount of containers allowed on the property after reviewing the location. No more than five containers will be allowed at any time for a property. The placement of a container must adhere to the same restrictions as residential usage.
`For me, it is a quality-of-life issue for residents because who would want to see a ‘POD’ in someone’s driveway for six months?` said board member Gina Wierzbowski.
Koetzle echoed Wierzbowski’s comments.
`We’ve worked hard on quality-of-life issues in the neighborhood,` he said.“
