Trailer law proposal upsets business owners

0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, May 23, 2001 | by Kent, Joan

Representatives of La Crosse businesses and non-profit institutions gave city officials an earful Tuesday about what's wrong with a proposed ordinance designed to curb the use of trailers and similar containers for on-site storage.

"If I could build an add-on I'd do it, but the economics are not there," Mike Schleppegrell, owner of Champion Auto Stores, said at an informational meeting on the latest revision of the proposed ordinance. "This is just one more hoop you want us to jump through."

The city has been attempting to create an ordinance on storage trailers since last summer. La Crosse Common Council Member Richard Becker initially suggested the move after neighbors around the Kmart on State Road complained about trailers on the store's lot.

The council directed city officials to draft an ordinance that would affect all businesses using trailers for storage.

The city already can ask owners of trailers used for storage to maintain them, said city inspector Ken Dentice. But he and Mayor John Medinger said the city does not have an ordinance enabling it to force owners to remove trailers.

"Kmart cooperated, but legally, we could not have done anything without an ordinance," Medinger said.

Neighbors around Kmart want an ordinance to ensure that the situation will not happen again, said Barb Clark, who lives near the store. "We thank them for cleaning it up, but we want it to stay that way," she said.

But business owners and nonprofit representatives said the ordinance will hurt them.

Noting that the proposed ordinance calls for screening trailers from being visible from any public street or river, Schleppegrell said, "How are we going to make trees grow out of concrete? I do not think that is realistic."

The Blue Stars keep instruments, which they use in performances and rehearsals, in a trailer, said Dave Svaleson. River City Youth Hockey also uses a trailer to store its gear, said Beverly Scott. Both wondered if they would be affected by the ordinance.

Trailers would have to be at least 75 feet from residential property, and at least 10 feet from other types of properties. "We would lose 13 parking spots to comply," said Roger Wendling of Monsoor's Sport Shop.

Medinger said the city will try to draft an ordinance that would be more acceptable. He said the council will probably not consider an ordinance until August.