The Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) has approved an application for a home-based business to make and ship silkscreened T-shirts.
Brent Barkman applied for a permit to run the business out of a detached garage at 5218 Silverpark Close.
Development officer Jane Archer told the commission Barkman plans to operate the business Monday to Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. from a 280- square-foot detached garage on the property.
She assured the commission that no clients will visit the residence and all sales will be shipped out.
“The applicant advises that they use environmentally-friendly inks and paints and that there is no smell. Noise will be quite minimal, similar to a radio playing,” she said.
According to the application, the planning department notified two adjacent landowners of Barkman's proposal and did not receive any comments on the idea.
“Planning and development staff are of the opinion that this home occupation would not unduly affect the use and enjoyment of the neighbouring parcels of land and therefore support approval of this application,” a document with Archer's signature says.
MPC chair Don Dwyer was still a bit worried.
“I do appreciate there are inks and it appears they're identified as being potentially non-toxic, but if stuff was disposed, there are probably no drains in the garage, those type of things,” he said to chief operating officer Scott Chant.
“Is that an issue or a concern, that chemicals, waters, inks – how they would be dealt (with)?”
“As my utilities hat gets put on, no, I have no concerns with this type of operation in here. It would be a lot less toxic than average – actually a garage or even a dry cleaning shop. With the environmentally-friendly inks and stuff, I have no concerns,” Chant replied.
Commissioner Heather Ryan wondered if fumes from the operation might be a concern.
Chant said those questions were raised by town staff too, but they were satisfied they wouldn't be an issue.
“Again, we've taken on the face value of the customer and the environmentally-friendly inks and stuff. No, there's no toxic fumes coming out of there. Definitely not like an autobody shop would be doing – inks and stuff like that,” Chant said.
"I have no concerns with this type of operation in here. It would be a lot less toxic than average – actually a garage or even a dry cleaning shop."SCOTT CHANT CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER TOWN OF OLDS
