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Bevan Road water issues addressed for Cumberland council

Council approves development for new yogurt facility’s buildings
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The industrial lands project for Cumberland’s Bevan Road has taken another step forward. Photo by Mike Chouinard

The Bevan Road industrial lands in Cumberland have take another step forward.

At a recent meeting, council proceeded with an application for the site north of downtown Cumberland.

The property development is being spearheaded by Acciano Development Inc., which operates as Tree Island Yogurt. In recent years, the company has been looking for a larger site to move its operation. The yogurt business is only the first of what would be an industrial park slated for the land on the north stretch of Bevan Road. The private site contains an estimated 85 per cent of the available industrial land in the Comox Valley.

“The development of the Bevan industrial lands is a strategic priority,” planner Meleana Searle told council.

RELATED STORY: Bevan Road in Cumberland is Valley’s industrial future

Acciano Development’s application is for a new industrial warehouse and processing facility for the yogurt operation.

“The proposed yogurt facility is consistent with the Bevan lands concept plan approved by council in 2020,” Searle said.

Coun. Jesse Ketler asked about fire protection and whether the proposal would rely on well water, while Coun. Gwyn Sproule wondered what effect a well could have on flows at Morrison Creek.

Manager of development services Courtney Simpson responded the business will likely use temporary storage for water such as tanks rather than a well, as had been proposed. This plan will have to be prepared by professional engineer and meet building code standards. Beyond fire suppression, the site will rely on a water main from the village system, which will need to be extended to the site before an occupancy permit can be granted.

“That will be the water source for the building,” Simpson said, adding that staff will be providing council with a report with more information on the water main soon.

She also said the developer is proposing to construct the water main and set up an agreement with the village to recover the costs as other properties set up at the industrial park and connect to water.

Coun. Vickey Brown was happy to hear about the water main installation for the site, as she was about the developers taking into consideration features such as Morrison Creek.

“I think the applicants have gone out of their way,” she said. “It’s very exciting to see movement happening out there.”

Council approved the motion for the development permit.



mike.chouinard@comoxvalleyrecord.com

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Waste Management Centre

Not far from the proposed Bevan Road project, the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre will be undergoing some changes in the future.

Council approved a request at the same meeting for an amendment to a 2020 development permit for 3699 Bevan Rd., which will allow an additional structure at the site.

“They are hoping to get the organics transfer station going,” Searle said.

Staff consider the request to be a minor amendment for reasons such as the fact the structure is to be located in the developed area on site, will not be visible from Bevan Road and is relatively small. As a minor amendment, it is not required to go before the village’s advisory planning commission.

The transfer station is part of Comox Strathcona Waste Management’s overall plan to send organics to a new compost facility to be built in Campbell River, while landfill material is to be centralized in the Comox Valley.