Council for the Rural Municipality of Hanover has approved a conditional use order, allowing an outdoor event venue to continue operating.
Rosengard Haven is located along Road 31N, south of Roseville Drive, southeast of Kleefeld. According to Hanover Planning Manager Jeremy Neufeld, Rosengard Haven has been operating as an outdoor event venue for multiple years without a permit. Neufeld says the nature of this business was brought to Administration's attention through the request for an event liquor license.
Neufeld says previously the Administration was under the impression that this site was being used for private family functions and in the past, liquor licenses were approved under that premise. After further investigation, it was determined that either the administrative understanding was incorrect, or the scope grew beyond the initial stated use.
As a result, the applicants requested a Conditional Use order to allow them to continue using the site as an outdoor venue.
Neufeld says Rosengard Haven is the result of a reclaimed aggregate operation. He notes repurposing the land for a recreational/ public purpose is one example of rehabilitating land that was otherwise destroyed through mining activity. Neufeld says the owners should be commended for this creative approach.
According to Neufeld, when it comes to outdoor public venues, especially those catering to weddings, noise is always the primary concern.
At Wednesday's public hearing, it was noted that one neighbour had submitted a letter of concern. The neighbour, who lives across from the park, says he does not mind a public event venue, but requested that all associated noise be at a very minimal level. His second concern has to do with traffic. His request is that traffic leave the park and then turn west, or for motorists to vacate via Road 28E.
Representatives from Rosengard Haven told Council that since 2020, their venue has only been used for four weddings, noting all other events have been quiet family functions. A request was also made to Council that their $500 fine be waved, noting that if they had known about all of the requirements, they would have gone through the proper channels.
Neufeld indicated that the fee is always higher when the request for a permit is made after the venue has already opened. Having said that, Neufeld indicated that he is not aware of any noise complaints that have been made towards this operation.
Following the public hearing, Councillor Darrin Warkentin made a motion that Council approve the request, as long as municipal bylaws, including noise bylaws are followed. The motion was unanimously approved by Council.
"We will I guess just ask the applicant to respect the noise bylaw and be respectful to the neighbours and I think we should be okay," says Hanover Reeve Jim Funk.
Hanover's Planning Committee will now consider whether or not the fine should be waved.