WEYBURN – City council approved Anita Sorenson’s request to operate an online store for house plants from her home.
The proposed hours of operation are from Monday to Friday at varying times but typically from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“It’s a controversial use as the business involves clients being directed to the home throughout the day,” said Development Officer Shara-Lee Malcolm during council’s regular meeting on May 12.
The zoning bylaw requires that controversial homebased businesses involving clients attending the home go through the neighbourhood notice process and receive council approval. Malcolm said neighbourhood notices were mailed out on April 24 to all neighbours within 50 meters of the applicant's home and residents receiving a notice were given the opportunity to comment on the application. No concerns or objections were received, she said.
Coun. John Corrigan asked for clarification on the type of plants being sold.
“I don't normally have a lot of questions about homebased businesses because I'm in favour of any type of business that opens up but this one raised some questions in my mind with it being house plants,” he said. “Are these real plants or are they artificial plants and if they're real plants is this individual a distributor or are they growing them at their residence, and if so does that still meet the criteria for a homebased business?”
Malcolm said they are real plants and it was her understanding that Sorenson is growing them outside of her home.
“It's a limited number of plants that she'll have available and she will be advertising online where people can order online and then they can come to the home to pick up the plants.”
Malcolm said the city monitors homebased businesses.
Under the city’s conditions, the homebased business can’t advertise the address of the home in the media. The permit is only valid for the initial address and the applicant’s driveway shall be used for off-street parking of clients.
