The owners of an architecture firm will not be allowed to operate as a home-based business in Mitchell.

A public hearing was held inside council chambers last week in the Rural Municipality of Hanover. 818 Architecture Inc had proposed operating as a home-based business at 41 Skandic Bay. That parcel is a pie shaped lot at the east end of Skandic Bay, directly south of Mitchell Elementary School. 

The applicants had indicated that their work would not include client visits to the office and would include the employment of three staff not living on-site. 

In its recommendation to Council, Planning Manager Jeremy Neufeld noted that the only foreseeable concern with this application had to do with parking. Neufeld says this lot is at the end of a cul-de-sac and so regular street parking could prove to be challenging. If the applicants would be able to provide on-site parking, Neufeld said Administration would have no concerns with this application.

Several neighbours shared concerns at Wednesday's public hearing. Many residents noted the minimal parking that already exists on that street and how much more congested it could become with an additional three employee vehicles. Residents say garbage and recycling trucks already have a difficult time in that cul-de-sac, especially during the winter months when the snow has built up.

Mitchell Councillor Brian Esau also expressed concern with this application. Esau says because of its proximity to the elementary school, this cul-de-sac is often used as a drop-off by parents whose children can then use the walking path to get to school. He notes the walking path runs alongside the residence that had been proposing the home-based business. 

Esau made a motion to deny the application. Council was unanimous in saying no to the applicants.