In This Week’s Editor’s Note:
- Courtenay: phase 1 moving forward for 80+ lot subdivision
- Comox: pre-zoning for multi-family apartments on four properties
- Campbell River: lot registration is underway for first phase of a 200+ unit subdivision
Courtenay: phase 1 moving forward for 80+ lot subdivision
A works and servicing agreement has been finalized for Phase 1 of a new subdivision at Stafford Avenue and1900 Ryan Road. The property includes 29 R1-zoned lots and permits single-family homes, as well as secondary suites and accessory buildings. Storm infrastructure installation is currently underway off Panorama Drive. The owner plans to issue a tender call in January for the subdivision construction. Once a contractor is selected, construction of roads and infrastructure is expected to begin in spring 2026. Once Phase 1 is underway, the applicant plans to submit a preliminary layout approval application for Phase 2, which will feature approximately 53 lots. These will fall under the new Small-Scale Multi-Residential (SSMR) zoning, allowing for three to four dwelling units per lot.
Comox: pre-zoning for multi-family apartments on four properties
Council has directed staff to proceed with Pre-zoning 1603 Brighton Road, 1000 Pritchard Road, and 1490 Cambridge for multi-family apartment use. The direction will require a change to the draft Official Community Plan (OCP), and will remove the requirement for mixed-use commercial/residential in the Pritchard corridor. In addition, council has approved pre-zoning of 1890 Comox Avenue to allow for multi-family apartment use up to six storeys in height. These four properties will not be required to redevelop, but create the potential for an additional 400-600 units in the Downtown, Anderton corridor and upper Pritchard areas and was requested by council in August. This pre-zoning to multi-family use is above the medium pre-zoning approach to encourage ground-oriented multi-unit residential development (GOMU) such as townhouses and multiplexes already included in the draft OCP. The GOMU designation applies to select sites, and is not Town-wide. Pre-zoning reduces the risks, timelines, and costs of development. When parcels are pre-zoned, the development process is primarily managed by staff to ensure Bylaw and policy compliance. If the application conforms with relevant bylaws, the BC Building Code, and senior government legislation and regulations, development can proceed. The updated draft OCP will be brought to council for approval in November, and a public hearing will be held later in November. This OCP update is required under Bill 44 and municipalities have until December 31, 2025 to complete their updates to reflect 20-year housing needs included in their updated Housing Needs Reports.
Campbell River: lot registration is underway for first phase of a 200+ unit subdivision
Construction for Phase 1 site improvements of the low-to-medium density residential subdivision at 120 and 155 Elk River Road is now substantially complete, with the lot registration process underway. This phase includes 46 residential and development lots, as well as the new Upper Nunns Creek stormwater detention facility. Offsite intersection improvements and watermain upgrades have also been completed. Work on Phase 1 began in August 2024. At full build-out, the project is expected to include 20 duplex lots, 138 single-family lots with provisions for secondary suites, and four multi-family lots.
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