By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A Rose Hill man’s application to create a facility to modify shipping containers a mile south of Hillsboro will be reviewed Dec. 1 by the county planning and zoning board.

Quentin Heidt wants to build a staging and operating location to modify new and recycled containers to customers’ specifications.

Heidt listed one of his reasons as providing assets for community members.

Shipping-container homes, along with other alternative-construction residences, eventually may be permitted in Hillsboro.

The proposed modification facility however is not related to an earlier planned development by Felix Ramirez, owner of Kansas Housing Solutions. Heidt said.

Ramirez has three shipping-container houses in Hillsboro mobile home park that he has listed on Airbnb. He also had purchased land north of 3rd with the idea of putting several container homes there.

Hillsboro modified its zoning regulations to allow for shipping-container houses, “barn-dominiums,” straw bale houses, and other alternative-construction residences but in April put a moratorium on Ramirez’s plans until a zoning overlay is completed.

Building inspector Ben Steketee returned Ramirez’s plan to him and has not yet seen a modified plan.

The county zoning meeting will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at Marion County Lake hall.