The Editor,
My family recently purchased a home in Port Coquitlam’s lovely new Fremont Village. The city and the developer are both using the slogan “live, work and play in Port Coquitlam.” So far, the work part has been pretty difficult.
I have my own business and am ready to expand to a small office space. I have found the perfect spot with fantastic owners above a cute little cafe right outside my new home in the industrial area.
Trying to go through the proper channels to get the appropriate business licence, I’ve been faced with a number of challenges. Not only did I write at least a half dozen times to different contacts within the city (none were responded to) but I also called, only to receive vague answers.
Apparently, even though there’s an “office” space above the cafe, it’s only allowed to be an “accessory office” to the business and I would almost need to be an employee to use the space.
Not only is the space perfect for my small but growing company but the lease is affordable when other commercial space just isn’t. Where are we supposed to go as young entrepreneurs? My husband and I purchased in Fremont because the home is beautiful but, more importantly, because we wanted to have a certain quality of life for our children. We truly wanted to “live work and play” all within walking distance.
Why should we be forced to open our business somewhere far away from our home when there is perfectly good space right outside our doorstep?
Apparently, there’s a rezoning application that has a pretty hefty fee attached to it that might go to council in four to six months. This isn’t good enough if you want to keep young business thriving in the city. Young entrepreneurs will look elsewhere to thrive, and that’s unfortunate.
B. Hardy, Port Coquitlam
