Your Weekly North Vancouver Island Construction News
In this week’s Editor’s Note:
- Port Alberni:Â 7.9 acres housing project for the Tseshaht First Nation
- Courtenay: College seeking General Contractor for new childcare centre. Â
- Powell River: New rezoning application to increase from 35 lots to 55-unit townhomes.Â
Port Alberni:Â 7.9 acres housing project for the Tseshaht First Nation
Tseshaht First Nation has purchased a parcel of land in Port Alberni to be used for off-reserve housing. The parcel of land is the old sawmill purchased from Western Forest Products, between Second and Third Avenues, at the bottom of Neill Street and Ship Creek Road. Tseshaht First Nation says the 7.9-acre property will be used to build housing within the city both for its members and the broader community. The land purchase is the nation’s first after the Province of B.C. announced a $5 million contribution agreement with Tseshaht in July 2023. Tseshaht First Nation will be creating a Tseshaht Housing Society and acquiring other lands.
Courtenay: College seeking General Contractor for new childcare centre.
North Island College (NIC) is seeking a General Contractor for the construction of a new Centre of Excellence in Early Learning at NIC’s Comox Valley Campus. The Centre will be located adjacent to the existing Beaufort Childcare Centre, which needs to remain operational throughout construction. NIC and Stantec will host a site walkthrough on May 9 at 11:00 am at 2300 Ryan Road, Courtenay. Attendance is non-mandatory but strongly recommended. Proponents must confirm their intention to attend the site walkthrough. The Province has provided $14.2 million to expand the existing Beaufort Childcare centre. This tender closes May 28. Â
Powell River: New rezoning application to increase from 35 lots to 55-unit townhomes.Â
The City has received a new rezoning application for a 5.31 acre property on Manson Avenue. In 2023 the City adopted a rezoning application that changed the rezoning From A1 to CD4 to create an affordable neighbourhood for families with approximately 35 lots. The applicant is now seeking rezoning to allow for a 55-unit stratified, ground-oriented multi-family development. In addition the applicant has submitted a two-lot subdivision application. The subdivision would create a lot for the existing single family home with the existing CD4 zoning. The second lot would be rezoned RM1 (Compact Residential). Staff noted it is possible the second lot could accommodate more than 78 units. The proposed units would be designed to meet Step Code 5, with the option of going net zero. Each unit will be independent with ICF walls through to the roof for superior sound proofing and fire rating. Council agreed the proposal meets the objects of the Sustainable Official Community Plan, and thus a public hearing is prohibited under the new Bill 44. Staff are recommending subject conditions including: confirmation from the Province that the stream crossing the property meets the requirements of the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation; that the subdivision application be completed; that the application register a Section 219 Restrictive Covenant against title of the second, larger lot; confirmation that City water, storm, sewer, and sanitary sewer infrastructure is adequate for the proposed development; and a voluntary community amendment contribution. Council will consider first reading of the new zoning bylaw at a future council meeting.
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