In this week’s Editor’s Note:
- Port Alberni: HGTV filming Home Town Takeover Canada
- Courtenay: approvals moving forward for 30 residential townhouses
- Campbell River: rezoning advanced to third reading for two five-storey, 74-unit buildings
Port Alberni: HGTV filming Home Town Takeover Canada
HGTV has chosen Port Alberni as the first participant of Home Town Takeover Canada. The HGTV crews will be filming from June 10 to August 28, renovating key civic spaces, eight resident homes, and select businesses. The show covers the cost of the renovations and is set to air this fall on HGTV, and will follow improvement projects, resident stories, and community-focused transformations. The show’s producers have chosen Harbour Quay as one of the civic spaces to receive a makeover in the show. In April of 2026, City Council identified the opportunity to renovate the exterior of the Marine Building, which will bring benefits to all businesses and users of Harbour Quay. This project will now be completed by the renovation experts from Home Town Takeover Canada.
Courtenay: approvals moving forward for 30 residential townhouses
Council has given first and second reading to a Zoning Amendment Bylaw for 3095 Lake Trail Road to rezone the property from Residential One A Zone (R-1A) to Medium Density Multi-Residential (RM-1). The bylaw is to facilitate a residential development of up to 30 residential townhouse units. As proposed, the applicant intends to build four buildings, potentially including stacked townhouses, in a mix of mostly two- and three-bedroom homes. Maximum building height is three storeys (11 metres), access will be from Lake Trail Road, and there will be shared amenity spaces, landscaped buffers and a private trail. The property is 1.08-hectares in the environmentally sensitive area of Arden Creek with adjacent wetlands. As such, the development would include: Permanent conservation of 5,786 m² (54% of the property); a 30-metre setback from the wetland; a 10-metre setback from Arden Creek; habitat restoration measures, including wildlife-friendly fencing, educational signage, and environmental management requirements; and protection of most mature trees through a conservation covenant. The applicant has agreed to provide affordable housing through a housing agreement. This is an in stream application, and the final commitment depends on whether Amenity Cost Charges (ACCs) apply: If ACCs do not apply: Two below-market two-bedroom units with rent set at 30% below median market rates for 12 years. If ACCs do apply: One below-market one-bedroom unit with rent set at 30% below median market rates for 10 years. Staff noted the property is within the municipal boundary and designated for urban residential growth and is identified in regional planning documents as a future settlement expansion area. A community information meeting was held in January. The application is generally consistent with the OCP and a public hearing is prohibited.
Campbell River: rezoning advanced to third reading for two five-storey, 74-unit buildings
Council has approved first, second, and third readings of a Zoning Amendment Bylaw for the property at 1940 Willis Road. The bylaw proposes rezoning the 1.22-hectare site from Residential Multiple Two (RM-2) to Residential Multiple Four (RM-4) to support a proposed multi-family development consisting of two five-storey buildings with 74 units each, for a total of 148 residential units. Approval is subject to several conditions, including registration of Section 219 Restrictive Covenants requiring grading of the northern 10 metres of the property to accommodate a future road connection, installation of a marked crosswalk on Willis Road at Fisher Road, and a developer contribution of $500 per dwelling unit ($74,000 total) toward park improvements in the Quinsam Heights neighbourhood. Prior to bylaw adoption, the owner must provide a 2.5-metre road dedication along Willis Road and a 10-metre road dedication at the rear of the property. The project will now proceed to the Development Permit stage for detailed review and approvals.
Building Links Construction Reports and Statistics: The weekly #1 construction projects resource for 30 years. New and updated projects, permits, tenders, and industry connections for Vancouver Island – Central North, West Coast and Powell River. Helping you build connections so you can build communities! Where are you getting your information from? Support local trades – Subscribe Now!
