Development rebounded in Courtenay in 2010, as the city saw building permit values rise $20 million from 2009.
Peter Crawford, the city’s director of planning services, shared development activity and statistics for the past year Monday.
“Development activity in 2010 continued at a strong and balanced level with an increase in total building permit values from $36,243,674 (2009) to $56,433,261 (2010),” he noted in his report to council.
“This was highlighted by two major construction projects, being the North Island College trades building ($5.5 million) and Costco ($11 million). There was also a significant increase in residential units under construction.”
Other significant building permits issued in 2010 include a $2.8-million addition and renovation at Christ the King Catholic Church, a $2.3-million 21-unit multi-residential project on Centennial Drive, the Honda dealership on Comox Road and Nissan dealership on Silverdale Crescent — both worth $2 million — and the Comox Valley Sports Centre addition, worth $1.3 million.
In terms of residential development, projects approved in 2010 include 37 multi-residential units at Muir Road, 42 multi-residential units at Lake Trail Road and 69 single-residential lots at Powerhouse Road, while 130 multi-residential units at Arden Road are under review, 85 multi-residential units at 20th Street and Cumberland Road have passed third reading, and a 32-hectare residential development in South Courtenay is under review.
Commercial projects include Value Village at the Old Island Highway, and industrial, commercial and residential buildings on Moray Avenue and numerous new car dealerships or renovations and additions.
On the land-use side, the city implemented its corporate climate action plan this year, adopted its community climate action Official Community Plan amendments, created an affordable housing amenity reserve fund and created development permit guidelines for duplexes and carriage houses, noted Crawford.
Coun. Manno Theos was happy to see that 2010 was “a fairly successful bounceback year,” and he pointed out that the value of commercial and institutional permits has surpassed residential permit values.
“For the first time in a few years, you’re seeing a nice balance between those areas of our tax base,” he said. “In the last few years, it was more heavily relying on the residential, so I’m glad to see this type of bounceback in that regard.”
Coun. Jon Ambler felt Crawford’s report was encouraging.
“We have as one of our goals to enhance the reputation of the city and the Comox Valley as a place to invest and do business and to make the city business-friendly — this is evidence we’re moving in the right direction on this,” he said. “When you look at the things that are being done, these are positive and encouraging things.”
Ambler also noted that with all the residential activity, many developers are building homes they expect to sell for about $180,000 or $190,000.
“People are building affordable houses now,” he said. “People have a chance of buying here in the Comox Valley ... these are good starter homes for folks, and it’s going to make our community livable.”
writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com