The VLA Enhancement Association has three years to prove the effectiveness of a tool share program.
On Monday night, city council granted the group a temporary use permit to put a 6.7 square metre shipping container in a vacant residential lot to house tools and yard maintenance equipment.
The Oak Street property is zoned as residential, which does not allow for shipping containers unless they are enclosed in a building or other structure.
The plan is for the container to sit at the rear of the property with access from the rear lane.
VLA Enhancement Association director Lee Stewart said there are some very artistic people in the neighbourhood who will be working to camouflage the container.
"This is a very large piece of property with lots of foliage and trees," said Stewart. "We're looking at painting trees that blend in with trees that are there, planting some vines around it. There lots of good ideas on how to make it so it's not visible from the street unless you really look."
Nobody spoke in opposition to the plan during the meeting, but two letters from a neighbour were added to the meeting's agenda expressing his disapproval.
"As the owner of the property that lies immediately adjacent to the lot on which it is being proposed to place this shipping container, I have some grave concerns about the negative impact that this feature will have on my current property value," wrote Brian Travis. "I also have concerns about the length of time that it is intended to possibly allow this shipping container to remain on the property as it could negatively impact any future intentions to sell my property."
Following a quiet public hearing, city council also gave the nod to renovations that will expand the capacity at a downtown nightclub. Lambda Cabaret is applying to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch to nearly double its occupant load by adding the main floor of the 1177 Third Ave. building to the mix and a patio at the rear of the property.
