The Importance of Small Business in Roberts Creek

Small business is the backbone of the Sunshine Coast economy.

Roberts Creek has a very small commercial centre. Home based businesses run by creative people are at the heart of our economy. There are well over 100 home based businesses in Roberts Creek including artists, artisans and musicians, health and wellness services like massage therapy, business support services like accounting and legal, internet services with clients all over the world, agricultural products, and excellent prepared products like jams and jellies and even wild fish, just to list a few.

I support our home based businesses and will work to ensure that they continue to thrive in all parts of our community.

The Official Community Plan is the tool kit for local government to support business in the community in a way that is compatible with other uses such as residential. Because it is a community driven process and becomes a bylaw of the Regional District, the OCP provides a guide to the Director indicating what the community wishes to see go on in each neighbourhood. The first draft of the new Roberts Creek Official Community Plan is now in the public feedback stage. The Plan does not propose any reduction of small business activity in Roberts Creek. However, there are some proposals to expand small business zoning.

  Here are some highlights:

• Home based business is permitted everywhere in the Creek, including along the Highway, and there is no plan to change that.
• Roberts Creek has a very small commercial core where businesses can operate independent of a residence. The draft Plan suggests a slight expansion of the commercial area so that owners could rezone their property to commercial if they are located on Roberts Creek Rd as far as Timberland, on the upper side of Beach Ave as far as Timberland, and the upper side of Lower Rd as far as Largo.
• Home based businesses operate along with residential use of a property. The draft Plan suggests a transition zone (going up Roberts Creek Rd as far as Cedar Grove Rd) where home occupation could be expanded so people could hire more employees and have a larger retail space than elsewhere.
• Bed and Breakfasts are permitted everywhere in Roberts Creek. The definition of bed and breakfast means the operator must be resident on the property. The draft Plan proposes permitting one additional bedroom (3 rather than 2) in a zone going up Roberts Creek Rd as far as the Roberts Creek Hall.

Your feedback on these changes is important! The full plan is available on the SCRD website www.scrd.ca. Please provide comments and suggestions to info@scrd.ca attn David Rafael. A public information meeting will be scheduled soon.