Rostraver seeing rise in residential shipping containers

By EMILY BENNETT DILULLO
ebennett@yourmvi.com
Rostraver Township commissioners are concerned about an outcropping of outdoor shipping containers in residents’ yards.
Township Building Ordinance and Zoning Officer Frank Monack raised his concern about the metal structures at a recent work session.
Monack estimated one newly installed residential shipping container is at least eight feet wide and 40 feet long. Standard shipping containers are typically 40 feet in length.
“Obviously, this is something that we have to look into,” Commissioner and Board President Devin DeRienzo said.
Solicitor Timothy Maatta referred to the structures as “tin cans on steroids,” but said they meet standard zoning requirements for the township.
Commissioner Henry Boldyzar Jr. said he knew of other shipping containers, including smaller containers, that had been installed in other yards within the township.
Monack said he believes the installation of the structures will persist and form into a trend, based on tiny house renovation trends and the small cost of the shipping containers. Commissioners said shipping containers can be purchased for about $1,500.
Television shows on the Home and Garden TV Network such as “Tiny House, Big Living,” “Tiny House Hunting” and “Tiny House Nation” have drawn attention to tiny-house culture. Many of these shows alter small structure such as shipping containers or train cars into entirely outfitted homes.
Presently, no zoning problems prevent the installation of a structure like the shipping containers. The “big boxes,” as Monack described them, meet the township definition of a shed.
Monack and Maatta said they would make arrangements to meet and discuss what could be done to potentially limit or restrict the installation of the structures on Rostraver residents’ properties.

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