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Campbell River’s newest future development gets some help from the city

City of Campbell River agrees to cost-sharing agreement for sewer improvements for Jubilee
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This schematic shows possible plans for Jubilee Heights, the new future development at Jubilee Parkway and South Dogwood Street, which is being made possible thanks to an agreement with the city to fund necessary sewer improvements.

City council has agreed to invest in sewer upgrades in order to facilitate the development of a subdivision in the Jubilee Heights area.

The developer, Couverdon, intends to subdivide and develop land on the corner of Jubilee Parkway and South Dogwood Street for residential and commercial use, including the creation of both single and multi-family housing units. There have also been plans in the past for a new fire hall as well as a school and play field.

But developers told city council last year that the existing sewer system in the area is a “major impediment” to the development. At that time, Mayor Andy Adams said there was “mutual interest to find a way forward” and council subsequently directed city staff to enter into negotiations with Couverdon to come to a cost sharing agreement to fund the necessary sewer infrastructure improvements.

Earlier this month, that agreement was presented to and supported by council.

Ron Neufeld, the city’s deputy manager and general manager of operations, said with council’s endorsement, the multi-million project could go ahead as early as 2018. It means, however, that the city’s 2017-2026 Financial Plan will have to be adjusted in order to allocate funding for the Larwood-Erickson sewer upgrade which is necessary to facilitate development in not only the yet undeveloped portion of the Jubilee Heights neighbourhood but around the Campbell River Airport and the Homalco First Nations reserve.

“Based on the preliminary engineering work completed in the fall of 2016, the total project is now estimated at $3.1 million with $200,000 of design works being paid directly by Couverdon in 2016/17 and the remaining construction costs of $2.9 million to be fronted by the city in 2018 with funding by the Sewer Capital Reserve,” Neufeld said. “Adequate funds are available in the Sewer Capital Reserve to accommodate this amendment.”

Neufeld added that under the agreement, Couverdon will pay its estimated remaining $1.91 million (68 per cent of $3.1 million) obligation as development in the Jubilee Heights area occurs.

The price tag associated with the project includes all engineering, design and professional services, survey costs, labour, material, contractors fees, administrative overhead, and similar costs that may be charged to similar projects.

The Jubilee Heights area encompasses 161 acres and has been the focus of significant future development for the past 20 years. It has been constrained, however, by the capacity of a portion of the existing downstream sanitary sewer system on Erickson, Harrogate and Larwood.

Ross McKeever and Jason Carvalho, representatives from Couverdon Real Estate/TimberWest told council during a presentation last year that Jubilee Heights will be attractive to home buyers because it’s close to the airport and arterial roads like the Island Highway, Dogwood and Alder streets. It’s also in the city’s south end which is where the city’s population is moving. According to a consultant’s report prepared for the city in 2015, 49 per cent of all residential construction occurred in the Willow Point area between 2010 and 2015.

McKeever said the new development area will increase that trend of movement towards the south.

“Jubilee Heights is anticipated to bring 350 new single family lots to the community of Campbell River,” McKeever said at the time, adding development was contingent on the sewer improvements. “The Jubilee Heights development is reliant on that upgrade. We’re receiving various interests from various parties to get moving ahead. We need the proper infrastructure to receive Jubilee Heights and add that supply and amenities to the community.”

Now with the upgrades set to move forward, Jubilee Heights is one step closer to reality. The entire development is expected to be built over 12 to 15 years.