At its Monday meeting, Courtenay council gave final reading to a zoning amendment that allows Victoria-based Woodsmere Holdings to build a pair of apartment buildings near the hospital at Mission Road and Veterans Memorial Way. Collectively, the four-storey buildings will contain 16 three-bedroom apartments, 46 two-bedroom units and 32 one-bedroom units.
Several area residents spoke against the project at a public hearing. Concerns centred around the height of the complex, traffic congestion and decreased property values.
•Council adopted a loan authorization bylaw to construct the $4.252 million Greenwood Trunk Connection to the sanitary sewer system.
An AAP (Alternate Approval Process) generated one elector response form before the Feb. 18 deadline.
“We think this is a good news story,” CAO David Allen said. “It’s been on the books for a number of years. We’ve tied in to the work that the regional district has done on their portion of the Greenwood Trunk. It’s going to provide an opportunity to allow development to continue in the east side of Courtenay. We know that costs have escalated with respect to construction, so getting this out as soon as possible is felt to be a good thing.”
The approval is for $3 million in borrowing over 25 years, Allen added.
The tendering process closes April 2. Construction is expected to proceed late May/early June.
Once constructed, the City will be able to decommission three smaller temporary lift stations, and redirect flows by gravity into the regional district trunk main on Anderton Road.
•In an effort to alleviate the burden on taxpayers, council approved a motion from Doug Hillian to request help from Transportation Minister Claire Trevena to identify alternative funding for the 5th Street Bridge rehabilitation project. Repairs are estimated at $6.3 million.