Editor:
I want to draw the attention of the public to the notice in the Coast Reporter of a public hearing to take place on Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The purpose of the hearing is to receive input from the community on an application to amend the Roberts Creek OCP and rezone, for the first time since its inception, land from the Forest Land Reserve (FLR) classification. FLR areas include tree farms and Private Managed Forest Land such as that owned by Island Timberlands. Established in 2005, the FLR allows for only one house on 100 hectares (247 acres). The FLR is intended to prevent urban sprawl into the Resource Rural areas above Highway 101. FLR classified lands exist not only in Roberts Creek but elsewhere on the Sunshine Coast.
This particular application is important because it will be a precedent-setting subdivision north of Harman Road in Roberts Creek. If approved, land will be taken out of the FLR to create 12 parcels, 2.5 acres each with each permitted to have two dwellings. The Roberts Creek OCP allows for five-acre minimum parcels as buffers between existing residential and FLR. The developer offers the rest of the district lot, 26 hectares of tree farm (64 acres), as compensation for approval of the application. Unfortunately, the gift to the SCRD already has a cell tower, the Hydro right of way and the route of the proposed new highway across it.
If you want to learn more about this “Subdivision of Remainder of District Lot 1312,” go to scrd.ca/planning-meetings. The same link will give information on how to join the public hearing. Written submissions may be sent or delivered to the SCRD prior to the Public Hearing on Sept. 7.
Elaine Futterman, Chair,
Roberts Creek Official Community Plan Committee
