The Comox Valley Regional District will be moving to its new office location starting Dec. 20. The new office at 770 Harmston Ave. in Courtenay will open to the public on Dec. 30.
In 2014, after years of analysis, the CVRD board determined that based on the flood-prone location on Comox Road, limited space and expensive lease costs, a new regional office building was a strategic priority.
In 2017, the board adopted a borrowing bylaw for the new building, based on results of the Alternative Approval Process. The financing strategy for the office redirects the $330,000 per year lease payments towards a debt repayment plan. In 2018, Knappett Projects was awarded the construction contract for the new facility.
“It is very exciting to see the new office come to fruition,” CVRD board chair Jesse Ketler said. “Many residents are not aware of the 99 services that the CVRD provides on a daily basis. By having the facility outside the floodplain and with a new post disaster emergency operations centre, those essential services that so many residents require daily will be able to continue in times of need.”
The new office has been built to LEED Gold standards. Some of the sustainable design elements include a chilled beam heating and cooling system which is 50 per cent more efficient than a conventional forced air system, LED lighting with timers, drought tolerant landscaping, two public electric vehicle charging stations, and sun shades over windows to reduce heat transfer and glare.
The office at 600 Comox Rd. will have limited services available the week of Dec. 23. The front desk will be open Dec. 23 from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Dec. 24 from 8 a.m.-noon to assist customers needing to pay bills, buy transit passes or purchase dog licences. On these two dates, please park on the road or in the rear gravel parking lot as the front parking area will be closed. The CVRD office will be closed December 25, 26 and 27.
An official opening celebration will be held in the spring.
FMI: www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/regionaloffice or call 250-334-6000.
