Your Weekly North Vancouver Island Construction News

June 1, 2022

In this Week’s Issue of Building Links

  • Courtenay: A new 6 storey, 54 unit apartment building proposed.  
  • Courtenay: New Official Community Plan and several bylaws affecting development have received first and second reading.  
  • Campbell River: BC Hydro is working towards a 2025 construction start date on the Strathcona Dam Water Discharge Upgrade Project.
This artist’s rendition shows WestUrban’s proposed multi-family development on Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay. The six-storey building has alternating dark and light siding with a flat roof and large balconies.

Courtenay: A new 6 storey, 54 unit apartment building proposed. 

A rezoning application for a new 6 storey, 54 unit apartment building in Courtenay is under review.  The project includes a mix of 42 two-bedroom plus den and 12 three-bedroom units. WestUrban Developments Ltd. is requesting a zoning change from Country Residential (CR-1) to a Comprehensive Development (CD) zone. Other features include under ground parking, large balconies, bicycle storage, and a fully landscaped property for a property at 3210 Cliffe Avenue. The .597 acre site is already serviced but the existing building is derelict. The new development is intended to improve the aesthetic and livability of the existing neighbourhood, and will connect to both the Riverway pathway and transit.

Courtenay: New Official Community Plan and several bylaws affecting development have received first and second reading.

The City of Courtenay’s new Official Community Plan and several bylaws have received first and second reading. There are numerous changes including future growth areas, accelerated adoption of the Energy Step code, zonings for secondary suites, and multi-family parking requirements. The eventual content and adoption of the changes remain subject to public hearings and Council may consider changes at third reading in response to the input received. If those changes affect land uses, development density or tenure, a second public hearing may need to be held. As required under provincial legislation, the OCP includes: targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; affordable housing policies; and areas of potential development considering the most recent housing needs report (2020 Comox Valley Housing Needs Assessment). Over the next few weekly issues, Building Links will provide more information on changes that may affect local development. For more information visit the City of Courtenay’s OCP Project Page.

Campbell River: BC Hydro is working towards a 2025 construction start date on the Strathcona Dam Water Discharge Upgrade Project.

BC Hydro is working towards a 2025 construction start date on the Strathcona Dam Water Discharge Upgrade Project in Campbell River. The total cost of the project is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. A cost range estimate will be provided when a project application is filed with the BC Utilities Commission. Regulatory and procurement processes will begin in 2023. The Strathcona Dam holds back the water storage within the Upper Campbell Reservoir/Buttle Lake. The purpose of the project is to improve water discharge abilities at the dam and to replace the spillway gates. An open cut channel on the right side of the dam will provide for the new and improved water discharge abilities. The project was progressing as planned until a physical water model in 2021 showed some strong water vortices that had potential to damage the new structure during operations. Additional time was taken to refine the design and recent water modelling has shown the issue to be resolved.

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