Just two weeks after members of the public raised concerns with the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s proposed Zoning Bylaw 722 in a “lively” hearing, staff presented changes based on that feedback to the board of directors.
At the Sept. 22 Committee of the Whole meeting, staffers Jonathan Jackson and Yuli Siao said most of the concern heard was around the public consultation process, restrictions on home-based business, residential agriculture and setbacks from ocean waterfront.
Since the Sept. 6 public hearing, where none of the 100-plus attending residents spoke in favour of the proposed Zoning Bylaw 722, staff were able to incorporate feedback that does not affect density. On Sept. 16, the SCRD published a press release outlining staff recommendations following the public hearing.
Home-based business customer limit scrapped
The most recent version of the proposed bylaw (which is replacing the decades-old Zoning Bylaw 310) includes adjustments to home-based business and residential agriculture.
The committee moved the staff recommendation to scrap the daily limit on visiting customers and deliveries to a home-based business. That previous restriction to six customers per day would have affected public events, particularly the Art Crawl.
Area D alternative director Tim Howard asked about home-based business within enclosed buildings, with respect to uses such as equestrian training. Staff said businesses such as petting zoos or equestrian-type uses are permitted as an agricultural use and considered different from a home-based business.
“It's challenging with these things to find regulations that’s sort of one-size-fits-all, but yet still maintain that residential character of neighbourhoods where these businesses are primarily conducted. But that was the intent of this,” Jackson said.
Staff also made adjustments to the allowable size of a home-based business, changing it to the total floor area of all allowable auxiliary buildings plus a maximum of 40 per cent of the floor area of a dwelling on a parcel. Halfmoon Bay director and committee chair Lori Pratt spoke in favour of the update.
What the bylaw means for birds, bunnies and bees
For birds, bunnies and bees — AKA residential agriculture — staff recommended lowering the size threshold. Lots between 1,000 square metres and 1,500 square metres will be allowed a maximum of 10 fowls (but no roosters) and rabbits, as well as two beehives. Lots bigger than 1,500 square metres will have no limit on poultry, beehives or roosters. The Sept. 16 press release notes that, according to the current Zoning Bylaw 310, residential agriculture is not allowed on lots smaller than 1,500 square metres, and the new bylaw would introduce a lot size category to allow that use.
“Nothing’s being taken away from what anybody previously had,” Jackson said in response to a question from Area A director Leonard Lee about roosters.
Pratt asked about whether beehives could be considered for non-agricultural use, such as for environmental purposes instead of livestock, as she expressed her concern for pollinator populations. Staff said the regulations were developed in line with best practices of other local governments and the Ministry of Agriculture, and said there are no regulations about bee attractants people could have on their property, such as wildflowers. Jackson also added that many lots in the rural district are over the allowable size to keep bees.
15-metre setback provision remains
Multiple density-related measures are expected to stay the same from the previous version of the new bylaw. These include increasing the permitted size of an auxiliary dwelling unit to 90 square metres, allowing every single-family home a secondary suite within the home up to 55 square metres, and houses are no longer required to be a minimum of six metres wide.
As for the minimum setback from the ocean, structures in West Howe Sound, Roberts Creek, Halfmoon Bay and Elphinstone must be built at least 15 metres from the sea, up from the current 7.5-metre setback. The 15-metre setback is already in effect for the Roberts Creek area, written into the bylaws of the Town of Gibsons and District of Sechelt, and considered best practice recommendations of the shíshálh Nation. The agenda notes applying the requirement through Bylaw 722 sets “a unified standard for building siting along the coast lines of the Sunshine Coast.”
Elphinstone director Donna McMahon said anyone with a particular problem with the setback can always apply for a variance.
“This bylaw does, in fact, loosen the restrictions on residential agriculture. And it permits roadside stands, which we've had for years and years, and are really important. They're part of our neighborhoods, and part of the whole residential agriculture, local food thing,” McMahon said, adding that she is comfortable moving forward. Later in the meeting she said, in reference to people with poultry, “I would much rather have these people[‘s uses] be legalized and the roadside stands.”
With those changes given the green light by directors and not requiring a second public hearing, the revised bylaw was forwarded by the committee to the Oct. 13 board meeting for third reading and adoption.
