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Executive Summary
Cargo Container Storage Model Ordinance
Early in 2006, the Will County Center for Economic Development (CED) and its cooperating governmental units began a review of certain impacts on Will County generated by the Logistics Park Chicago intermodal facility. Logistics Park Chicago is operated by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and is located in the Deer Run Industrial Park in Elwood, Illinois.
More specifically, the CED and these governmental units looked at the impact of businesses engaged in cargo container storage. The unified goal and anticipated outcome of the inquiry was to establish regulations that would limit negative impacts of such businesses while not unduly impeding this segment of the cargo container industry. The only regulations that were explored were those that dealt with businesses that store cargo containers and maintain, repair, or modify such equipment. Businesses that have a single cargo container on property as a storage unit or related use were not the subject of this study.
After much review and debate between the governmental units and business stakeholders, a model ordinance was established. The purpose of the model ordinance is to create a framework for a common set of regulations that each governmental agency can adopt and/or modify to meet their own needs and local circumstances. In essence, the model ordinance serves as a template that each governmental unit can utilize as they draft or revise their own ordinance.
In addition to the model ordinance, the CED and cooperating governmental units also established a related set of Best Practice Guidelines, a Checklist for Applicants, and an overall Policy Paper. These three additional documents help frame the cargo container storage issue, suggested approaches for addressing the issue and provide criteria that can assist the local governmental zoning reviews of cargo container facilities.
On February 8, 2007, this packet and a presentation was presented to the Will County Governmental League and its participating municipalities.
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