Council for the Rural Municipality of Hanover is contemplating a request for a contractor's establishment southwest of Mitchell.

According to Hanover Administration, Erich Esau took out a permit in 2021 for a 2,000-square-foot detached shop. His property is located west of Road 29E and north of Road 35N, along Rocky Lane. 

Planning Manager Jeremy Neufeld says around the same time that he took out the permit, he also started a timber frame construction business on site. The timbers are prepared on site and then moved to the construction site. However, there is exterior storage of materials associated with the business.

Neufeld says the property contains three accessory buildings. In addition to the shop, there is a canvas storage building and a greenhouse. The property is zoned Rural Residential and therefore only two accessory structures are permitted. A variance is needed, which if approved, will legalize the business and the non-conforming number of accessory structures.

In his recommendations to Council, Neufeld says Hanover has approved contractor's establishments in Rural Residential areas in the past. However, he says since there is greater visibility of the parcel from the road and neighbouring parcels, it would be prudent to consider the aesthetics and livability of the neighbourhood. Neufeld says one suggestion could be to approve the application subject to the condition that all materials be stored in an area surrounded by a solid fence at least six feet in height and that no materials be visible from the road or neighbouring properties.

At last week's public hearing, neighbour Waldon Reimer told Council that the construction of the third structure on this property has morphed business activity there. Reimer says he does not want to live next to a lumberyard, noting the LED lights from this business shine into his bedroom and there are lifts of material left on site that are encroaching onto his yard. Further to that, Reimer told Council that there are two bulk fuel tanks on that property.

Administration told Council that there was no additional correspondence from the public on this matter.

In response, Esau told Council that he was told by the municipality that a permit would not be required for the additional structure on his property, which is why he never pulled one. He said he also did not realize that a business permit would be required. Esau told Council that he plans to dig a ditch yet this summer to address some of the drainage concerns. As for the lifts of material on his property, Esau says most of the material is not visible from the road. 

Councillor Curtis Dawydiuk made a motion that Council refer the request back to Planning Committee of Council. That motion was approved and will be discussed by Hanover's Planning Committee before this comes back to Council for a final decision. 

Councillor Roberto Hiebert also made a motion that the two bulk fuel tanks be removed from the property within 30 days. That motion was also approved. This motion came after Administration told Council that fuel tanks are not allowed in residential areas.