By Lexi McFarlane, Times Chronicle
The Town of Osoyoos will stay the course with current regulations on metal storage containers (MSCs) after hearing feedback from residents last month.
The decision follows a presentation made to Council during Tuesday’s Regular meeting. The presentation included an overview of current zoning regulations surrounding MSCs, as well as the results of a survey conducted from January 8 to 31 through three mediums: eNews, the Town’s website, and the Town’s Facebook page.
MSC’s, which are described as a “purpose-designed metal cargo container” mainly used for the storage of supplies, are currently only allowed as accessory buildings and structures under the Town’s bylaws.
They are also only allowed for agricultural or industrial properties, with temporary exceptions for construction purposes. There is a maximum of two permitted per parcel of land, and they cannot be sited between building and street fronts.
The current bylaws, which date back to 2012, were discussed at the August 12, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting, where Council resolved to review them and designate it as a “strategic priority” for 2026. This included the survey, conducted last month, for which Town Planner Shannon Duong said a total of 385 residents responded to.
The survey found that nearly 72 per cent of respondents were against MSC’s being allowed on residential properties as part of zoning bylaws. Most respondents also did not see current regulations as falling short, with 58 per cent of respondents deeming the current bylaws “sufficient”.
Several factors were indicated as to why the majority of survey respondents opposed MSC’s on residential properties. The most common concern was about their impact on neighbourhood aesthetics, with other concerns mentioned including perceptions of impact on property values and safety, as well as alternative storage options that could be utilized instead.
Conversely, some respondents who wanted to see bylaw revisions supported looking into minimum parcel size requirements, sitting restrictions, the container maximum per property, time limitations, and the aesthetic concerns.
The recommendation before Council was to receive the report and vote against making changes. Councillor Jim King wanted to ensure that nothing new would have to be approved otherwise.
“Is this just to receive the report, or are we implementing a new bylaw?” King asked. Duong confirmed no new bylaws were needed.
“Council would be receiving the results of the survey regardless; it’s just a formal intake of those survey results,” Duong said. “The recommendation is, in addition to receiving those survey results, that the Metal Storage Containers review project not be undertaken.”
Council voted unanimously to support the staff recommendation, receiving the report and keeping the bylaws the same.
