At a public hearing about increasing the shoreline setback in Roberts Creek, opponents said the change would single out Roberts Creek property owners from other waterfront property owners on the Coast and cause their property values to drop.
"If it is, in fact, the intention of the provincial government to make all waterfront properties' setback 15m, then let's level the playing field and have it all happen at the same time," said Sharon Petzold, a Roberts Creek waterfront property owner and a realtor. From a realtor's perspective, she said, increasing the required shoreline setback in Roberts Creek will disadvantage owners of Roberts Creek waterfront property vis-à-vis waterfront property owners in places like Halfmoon Bay, who won't face the new setback requirements.
The public hearing was held Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Roberts Creek Hall and was the last opportunity for the public to voice opinions about the proposed amendment to the bylaw.
Mark McMullen, manager of planning for the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), opened the hearing by presenting the details of the bylaw, which will extend the shoreline setback for any structure, including walls, paths, steps and gazebos, on waterfront property to 15m from 7.5m.
He explained the two key rationales for the change fighting erosion and protecting forage fish spawning areas and explained the details of how current buildings and structures on waterfront property will be grandfathered. He also explained that the proposed bylaw has a provision to allow for smaller setbacks in "tunnelling" situations where a new building, going up between grandfathered buildings, risks having its view limited by the new setback requirements.
Besides property value concerns, opponents of the bylaw change expressed concern that insufficient process had been used, that the amended bylaw would be very hard to enforce and that other causes of erosion, such as beach logs, weren't being looked into and addressed.
The two people who spoke in support of the change, Dianne Sandford, a member of the Roberts Creek Shoreline Advisory Committee, and her daughter, Carlie Sanford, spoke about environmental gains.
"I guess I'm speaking on behalf of the next generation," Carlie said. "I think we can look at it as an opportunity for Roberts Creek to set an example for the Sunshine Coast. I think it's really great for us to take responsibility for other species."
