COURTENAY, B.C.- Habitat for Humanity’s latest project in the Comox Valley is moving forward.
Executive Director of the Vancouver Island North division, Pat McKenna, was at Courtenay council on Monday. At the meeting, council approved a development permit with variances for the project.
“It was our third and final reading for our Lake Trail project,” said McKenna.
The project will see a 10-unit building built at 1330 Lake Trail Road in Courtenay.
“Habitat for Humanity is kind of a gap between low-rental housing, supportive housing and market housing because we do home ownership,” said McKenna.
“Ten homes will free up ten spaces in the community as well for supportive housing and for rental housing.”
The construction of the project will be split into four phases. The first four units are expected to be available for qualified families in fall 2018.
Habitat for Humanity applied for rezoning to move the project forward earlier this year.
Council approved that request in October.
The organization was required to apply for a development permit with variances, because all multi-residential developments in the city of Courtenay are subject to the development guidelines in the Official Community Plan (OCP).
Changes were made to the original plans to meet city guidelines and bylaws.
However, review of the development permit plan revealed that a few components of the project still did not meet zoning bylaw requirements.
The proposed development is unable to meet two of the city’s zoning bylaw regulations.
Fifteen parking stalls are required, but the plan proposes fourteen, with two visitor spaces.
The required front yard setback is 7.5 metres. The proposal indicates that units 9 and 10 encroach 2.0 metres into the front setback area, resulting in a proposed setback of 5.5 metres.
This all led to Habitat bringing forward the application for the development permit with variances, which was approved by council at this week’s meeting.
“That was kind of a final hurdle for us as far as to get going and get our shovels in the ground in March of (next year),” said McKenna.
He noted that they have already started preparing the site, and are putting together a space for volunteers to use during construction.
