Council for the Rural Municipality of Hanover has denied a resident from bringing a second shipping container onto his property.

The applicant owns a lot that is just over two acres in size, south of Mitchell along Prairie Road. The lot contains a house that is currently under construction. 

Hanover Planning Manager Jeremy Neufeld says a permit was issued for a single shipping container on the site. The applicant requested permission for a second container which would be used as the left and right walls for a 640-square-foot accessory storage structure. A roof would be built over top, with the containers acting as the side walls. 

Neufeld says the request came to Council as a variance application because of the second container. He notes accessory structures are otherwise permitted. 

He notes Hanover Administration has concerns with this proposed build. First of all, he says the site is within a new development. Neufeld says even though the properties are two acres in size, they are not excessively large and therefore the structure would be visible from the road. He adds that the proposed design could easily be considered aesthetically displeasing and that there is a high likelihood that it could create friction within the neighbourhood. 

At last week's public hearing, Neufeld noted to Council that he had received no correspondence from the public on this matter. The applicant was also not present at the hearing.

Councillor Travis Doerksen says this sort of structure is probably better suited in an industrial area. 

Reeve Jim Funk says Council is very careful when it comes to requests for shipping containers. In fact, he says Council has yet to approve a second one on a small lot. 

"This one in particular was on a two-acre parcel," says Funk. "The unsightliness can get out of hand."

Funk adds if Council were to approve this, it would be difficult to police.

"Therefore, we are very careful with that," he says. "We denied this applicant."