Habitat for Humanity’s housing project in Courtenay just took a big step toward becoming reality.Courtenay council gave the green light Monday to notify adjacent property owners so they can provide input, and the application is set to come back before council June 11.The project at 1580 Piercy Ave. would see three duplexes — six homes — built by the community for local working families who need a hand up to obtain their own home.During a presentation to council, Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North build co-ordinator Peter Sanderson noted the organization sent out over 80 letters to property owners within 100 metres of the proposed site last week and all the responses he received — about 14 — supported the project.”Many comments were made about the positive influence that the project would have on the property and on the neighbourhood,” he added.The community support pleased Coun. Bill Anglin and he mentioned community support for development projects is something council looks for.The rest of council made positive comments about the project as well.Courtenay director of planning services Peter Crawford pointed out the proposed development permit contains many variances, but added most of them are minimal.He also said the City worked with Habitat to ensure the site will work with the density desired and the privacy needed, adding the plans are very detailed and City staff support the project.”We do support this,” said Crawford. “We feel the variances, there are a lot here, but the site does work.”Sanderson told council that Habitat has built six homes to date in the Comox Valley, but this one differs from past projects in a few ways.”For the first time west of Toronto, we’re organizing a Women Build,” said Sanderson.The Women Build project would see only women fundraise and build one of the homes from start to finish; Coun. Starr Winchester is so supportive of the idea that she is on the Women Build team.Sanderson added the second difference is this year’s Mountie House; local RCMP plan to work with high school students to build a house together.And another addition is the 191 Construction Division team from CFB Comox, which intends to build one home as a teaching program so the team has experience with residential construction before its deployment in October.Sanderson said the Piercy project would take about 10,000 volunteer hours to complete, adding the project builds community not just physical homes.”Remember the legendary barn-raising community get-togethers of our ancestors? We are the modern-day version where food, fellowship, fun and the odd sore back all come together to give a deserving family hope for the future,” said Sanderson.Families who receive a home must demonstrate need, have children and spend 500 hours giving ‘sweat equity’ to build their home. In return they own a home with no down payment, and a no-interest mortgage through Habitat for Humanity.Sanderson also noted the homes would be very energy efficient with an estimated yearly energy cost of about $900 per home. They would also be solar-ready, and property landscaping plans include features like composting containers, vegetable garden beds, an irrigation system and bike storage area to encourage environment-friendly activities.Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North executive director Deb Roth also told council that while Habitat projects increase property values and improve aesthetics, they also improve the community in ways unseen from curb of the street. “We’ve got adults that are going back to school, getting better education, getting better jobs, being able to keep jobs, and kids that are going on to pursue higher education,” said Roth. “So those are the things that you don’t see from the curb — that’s a difference that really impacts the community in a large way.”For more information, including how to get involved, visit www.habitatnorthisland.com.writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com

Comox Valley Record