With the Sustainable Official Community Plan (SOCP) review now complete, the city of Campbell River is proceeding with an update of the Zoning Bylaw to make sure it is consistent with the SCOP.

The City of Campbell River is proceeding with a zoning bylaw update and the first public open house event will take place Tuesday, May 2 at the Maritime Heritage Centre from 5 to 8 pm.

Some key topics to be addressed through this process include: alignment of the community vision and land uses in Quinsam Heights; provisions for secondary suites; clarifying commercial zone uses; land uses permitted on the estuary; and clarifying bylaw interpretation.

For online information, and to register for email updates on upcoming events and activities, visit www.campbellriver.ca/OCPreview. For information about the project, contact the City’s Community Planning and Development Services Department at 250.286.5725.

Receive up-to-date information on building permits, tenders, proposed developments and construction news for the Comox Valley, Campbell River, Port Hardy, Powell River and more locations on the North Island with Building Links.

Ocean and mountain view building lots for Phase II of The Ridge in Courtenay on Vancouver Island are currently being developed.

With Phase I home construction nearing completion, and many new residents already living at The Ridge, Phase II lots are being prepared to meet the growing demand in this popular community. These new home lots are expected to be available in the summer of 2017. Reserve your lot now, and move into this new home development by the end of 2017 or the spring of 2018.

A few of the home sites at The Ridge are zoned for legal secondary suites or carriage homes, allowing for plenty of room for guests and extended family to visit, or to stay.

Along with the construction of homes, Phase I saw the development of parks, playing fields and playgrounds in the community as well as easy access to walking trails, Millard Creek Park and the ocean. And all of the amenities of the City of Courtenay and the Comox Valley are at your doorstep.

Contact the developer today to learn more about building your new custom home at The Ridge.

Contact: Bruce Clapham
Mobile: 250.650.8588
Email: theridge.bruce@mail.com
Web: TheRidgeBC.com
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Residential construction is up in all municipalities in the Campbell River and Comox Valley regions, by 57% this quarter compared to 2016.

The region’s first quarter construction statistics shows a dramatic increase in the residential sector in the Comox Valley and Campbell River regions.

Single family dwelling starts are up by 57% overall, with the biggest increase occurring in Campbell River which showed a 100% increase in the new homes started this year, compared to the same period last year.

Total construction values are $45.3 million compared to $37.2 million in 2016, a 24% increase.

Full details available in Building Links.

We have seen unprecedented frenetic activity in the new home market during the past year, due mostly to the low inventory of new lots in both the Comox Valley, the Comox Valley Regional District and Campbell River.

New subdivisions are being designed and plans are being submitted to the various municipalities for approval. Builders, eager to build new homes for clients are contacting developers directly to get their names on reserved lists for when the properties are registered.

Lot prices in the Comox Valley and the Campbell River area have risen substantially due to the shortage of lots. Prices in Campbell River range from approximately $90,000 to $200,000; the higher prices account for lots that feature ocean views or are larger in size. Prices in the Comox Valley range from approximately $140,000 to $225,000. These prices are the average price range of lots and there are some lots that may be a little less expensive and some that are more expensive, based on location and size of lots.

One trend we are seeing during the past year is the popularity of lots zoned to include secondary suites, also known as in-law suites or legal suites. Lots that are zoned to accommodate this type of home, is typically selling for about $20,000 to $30,000 more than the lot zoned to allow for the construction of a single-family home.

Different municipalities track secondary suites in a variety of ways. For example, if a lot is zoned to allow for a secondary suite, then it is usually not reported in the building permit statistics, only the value of the home is reported. However, if someone is adding a secondary suite, once the home is built, or the owner is required to report it to the municipality, then that information is released.

Our research shows an approximate 40 per cent increase in the creation of secondary suites in the Comox Valley and in the Campbell River region in 2017 compared 2016.

Both communities continue to show an increase in the average sales price. For March, 2017 the average price was up 18 per cent to $465,892. Campbell River was very similar with a 19 per cent increase to $399,456.

The vacancy rate in the Vancouver Island rental market is at a record low level and this is certainly the case for Campbell River and the Comox Valley. This fact is pushing rents up and is forcing more buyers into the market. In some cases, it is cheaper to own than it is to rent. There are still some older, less expensive condominiums to be found, around the $130,000 to $150,000 range if someone is looking to invest in the market.

Clarice Coty is the editor of Building Links.
Contact: clarice@buildinglinks.ca
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Originally printed in Business Vancouver Island, April 2017 Edition.

Due to unprecedented sales of lots and new homes in the Crown Isle Community on Vancouver Island, this golf course development is moving ahead to develop three more subdivisions.

The developers are planning an additional 150 new lots in the next few years years. Contact the real estate team at Crown Isle to add your name to their growing list of potential new Crown Isle homeowners for one of these new subdivisions. Or if you’re ready to start building now, they can assist you with selecting a lot from their existing inventory.

The Crown Isle development is ideally situated in Courtenay in the Comox Valley. Built around a championship 18-hole golf course, the community is conveniently located next to shopping, schools, community amenities and even the new Comox Valley Hospital.

The Crown Isle real state team can also assist you with selecting one of the premier builders who are building new custom homes within the community.

Contact them now for more information.

Jason Andrew, Director of Sales
Phone: 250.207.0070
Email: jandrew@crownisle.ca