The Rural Municipality of Ste. Anne will hold a public hearing on July 8, 2026 to consider allowing a home-based sawmill at 37136 and 37128 Dawson Road. The McDougall family has applied for a conditional use order to run the sawmill on their rural residential property, where such operations are not normally allowed without council approval.
Under the RM of Ste. Anne Zoning By-law 2023-13, a sawmill falls under “Home-Based Industry.” This category permits outdoor storage, equipment use, and noise or traffic levels that go beyond a typical home business. The public hearing is set for 10:00 a.m. at the Municipal Office Council Chambers, and anyone can attend in person or online.
Residents who want to share their views without attending can send written comments by Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. All feedback must be in before council makes its decision. Property owners within 100 metres of the address have already received direct notice of the hearing, as required by Manitoba’s Planning Act.
The application, numbered #14-26, was posted on the RM of Ste. Anne website. Nadine Vielfaure, the municipality’s legislative officer, is the contact for written submissions and can be reached at [email protected] or 204-422-5929 extension 102.
The decision will test how the municipality balances support for home-based businesses with protecting the character of rural residential areas. The sawmill proposal is the first of its kind to appear in recent public notices for Ste. Anne, though council routinely handles other conditional use requests.
