The first batch of Buckstone Investments Ltd.’s proposed units for an area in South Courtenay got the green light from Courtenay council last week.
Council unanimously passed a development permit for 69 units, which will be made up of single residential homes, duplexes and carriage homes.
The development will be phased in with a total of 300 units in the residential development called The Ridge on 73 acres of land bound by Fraser Road, Buckstone Road and Comox Logging Road in South Courtenay.
This land was annexed into the City of Courtenay in 2007 and is part of the South Courtenay Local Area Plan (SCLAP), which was adopted by council in 2009.
Buckstone Investments Ltd. bought the land in January 2008, and The Ridge is the first development application within the SCLAP.
Coun. Ronna-Rae Leonard noted she’s glad to see the project moving along with a strong focus on environmental initiatives.
Some environmental considerations as included as conditions in the development permit are — the community will be pedestrian friendly with a trail network throughout, trees will be planted and natural areas restored, and all homes must be solar ready, among other things.
Coun. Manno Theos was also pleased with the plans for the area.
“It definitely meets a lot of criteria that our community has been gearing towards, you know, there’s a mixture of homes that are going to be built here,” he said. “You’re looking at duplexes and carriage homes, single residential homes, so this has a good mix. It also has an emphasis on trails, and cycling, and walking and nature.”
