If you are planning to live in a container home, you might not want to move to Osawatomie, at least for now. Osawatomie city council members have approved a temporary moratorium on container homes, ensuring that none will be built inside the city limits until planning staff has studied the matter. Osawatomie City Manager Bret Glendening told council members that a container home recently was built in Paola, and he wanted to make sure zoning regulations and codes are reviewed before allowing them in Osawatomie.
Glendinning says the current zoning regulations do not speak to acceptable construction materials for residential structures beyond the traditional modular homes, manufactured homes and site constructed homes. The resolution would give city staff the power to reject any building permit proposing the use of shipping containers to build a home. Commissioners want to study the pros and cons of using the containers, and build regulations to do so. The moratorium will be in effect through Dec. 31, 2025.
