Temporary storage bill drafted
By Jennifer Mitchell
Rocky River
Published Dec. 6, 2006

As the use of temporary portable storage units, such as those provided by the PODS company, gains popularity across the Westshore, resident complaints over the safety and aesthetics of the heavy metal holders also are increasing.

  Now Rocky River, like Fairview Park, is looking at regulating the use of such containers within its borders. As Ward 3 Councilman Frank Gollinger puts it, they “have been popping up like mushrooms in our community.”

Companies are now delivering storage units to homes and businesses, allowing customers to pack at their leisure. The containers are then moved when the user is ready, either to a new location for unpacking, or to be stored by the company.

“We never had them, to my knowledge, and then all of the sudden they started popping up — even some of them were placed in the street,” Gollinger said. “Many communities are apparently looking at this issue now because of the popularity. It seems to have become a more convenient way for people to get things stored or transported from one place to another.”

However, the way some are going about using the on-site metal crates is creating problems, he said.

Parking on city streets is prohibited from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. but some bins were left on streets for days, causing line-of-sight issues for drivers and pedestrians, the councilman added.

A newly drafted ordinance, expected to come before council on Monday’s consent agenda, will prevent such hazards as well as try to maintain the city’s uncluttered appearance.

“Most people get them off and on (their property) with dispatch,” Gollinger said. “Unfortunately, we have to create the law to cover those other situations.”

Rocky River Law Director Andrew Bemer created the ordinance. He said Bay Village has a similar one.

Under the yet-to-be adopted rule, the city plans to allow just one on-site temporary storage unit per user at a time. However, before the unit can be delivered, the resident must apply for a permit from the Rocky River building commissioner. The $25 permit allows 15 days of use of the temporary storage unit. If more than 15 days is needed, the resident can apply again for a $25 extension permit, for a maximum total of 30 days use. Residents will not be permitted to use the temporary storage units more than twice a year. When delivered, such units have to be placed on a paved, off-street surface at least 15 feet from any public right-of-way within any residential district.

The draft legislation ties into the city’s existing rules, Gollinger said.

“All of our ordinances insulate the front setback to keep an open, uncluttered appearance for the residents,” he explained.