In October 2013, the municipality’s Economic Development Committee recommended a number of changes be made to Bowen’s Land Use Bylaw (LUB) including the elimination of a clause that prohibits the rental of any motorized vehicles on Bowen. If this had happened, Ben Tamblyn’s first venture into the world of business on Bowen Island would likely have been a lot easier. However, that did not happen so the Tamblyn’s ambition to set up a scooter rental business will require patience and several thousand dollars worth of investment before it can get off the ground.
“After running several businesses in Indonesia, I’m used to dealing with bizarre red tape,” says Tamblyn, who moved back to Bowen with his family from Bali a year ago. “I used to see myself as an educator, but I’ve been increasingly turned-on to the idea of starting little innovative businesses – and I don’t want to commute. Launching an enterprise here is how I want to express myself, and my commitment to Bowen. And this is just my first idea.”
Tamblyn says he had hoped to launch the business sooner, but as making the necessary change to the Land Use Bylaw will require five readings in council so he’s looking at a delay of 6 – 9 months.
Tamblyn will also need to pay the municipality $3,600 in order to re-zone his property on Miller Road, so that he can run the business from there.
“On the bright side, I think that these challenges are probably the reason someone has not already set a business like this up already,” says Tamblyn. “And if we can jump through the hoops, it seems they will likely close behind us and that will be to our advantage.”
Tamblyn says that he is eager to chat with anyone else who may be pursuing a similar idea, and if anyone is interested in contacting him they can do so by emailing [email protected]
