The City of Campbell River has updated an illustrated, easy-to-read handbook for developers preparing applications to help streamline the development permit and approval process.

The City’s development handbook was first created in 2013 to provide a visual interpretation of the City’s development permit guidelines. A comprehensive guide, it details development permit submission requirements, including how Official Community Plan guidelines apply to new commercial and multi-family projects.

Building Links, the North Vancouver Island construction report has released its third quarter, year-to-date construction statistics, which compares the permits and construction values for the first 9 months of 2017 and 2018.

They report that total construction values for the Comox Valley and Campbell River now total $223 million for the year, with a $68 million increase from last year, and an $84 million increase from 2016.

Monterra Builders is building an 84 multi-family townhome project in Cumberland. Phase 1, consisting of 12 units is now occupied by the new owners. Phase 2, which includes 11 townhomes will be ready for occupancy in October. Construction is ongoing for Phase 3 through 5 for an additional 35 units. The project is expected to be completed in August of 2019. Prices of the units range from $381,900 to $399,900. Sales have been brisk, with 56 of the 84 units sold. Fifteen units are currently under construction.

Over the summer, the Province adopted the 2018 edition of the British Columbia Building Code, including Book II Plumbing Services. The BC Fire Code is anticipated to be adopted this fall and both codes will be effective December 10.

“The Victoria Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) housing starts trended higher in August on elevated multi-family construction. A large majority of the starts were in Langford, concentrated in rental projects. Year-to-date starts were up 32% in 2018 from 2017,” said Braden Batch, CMHC’s senior analyst. “The increase in starts was not reflected in the single-detached numbers, which were down 5% year-to-date.”

Construction activity on Vancouver Island continued at a robust rate during the April to June 2018 period (second quarter) with the total value of building permits issued reaching $806.9 million — a 42 per cent gain over the first quarter of 2018.

Total spending on residential construction spiked 45 per cent Island-wide to $698.2 million while non-residential building construction increased 23 per cent to $108.6 million. Construction employment increased by 8.6 per cent Island- wide in the first half of 2018. Victoria led the way with 1,800 more workers on the job in the second quarter.