Official Community Plan

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Housing • The Census 2016 data reported 11,705 dwellings within the city. • The majority of dwellings (67.8%) were constructed after 1981. • Approximately 70% of the total dwellings are owner-occupied, while 30% of the total dwellings are rented. • Single-detached dwellings are a main form of housing type currently provided in Courtenay. Of the total housing approximately: • 51% are single-detached dwellings, • 16% are row houses, • 10% are semi-detached and duplex dwellings, and • 20% are multi-residential dwellings. • 2,900 more housing units have been estimates. The growth modelling work (described in Part B) accounts for new housing of the following types: • 28% in single-detached dwellings (approximately 800), • 18% in townhouses and rowhouses (approximately 500), • 15% in semi-detached and duplex dwellings (approximately 450), • 31% in apartments 1-4 stories (approximately 900), and • 8% in apartments 5 stories or taller (approximately 250). • These figures do not include secondary estimated to be required to accommodate the projected increase in population of 4,500 more residents over 2016 population suites within single-detached dwellings or secondary detached dwellings such as carriage homes. Approximately 200 secondary units were modelled and, if built, will provide additional dwelling units dispersed throughout Courtenay.

Housing Needs At the time of the development of the OCP, the City of Courtenay participated in the 2020 Comox Valley Regional Housing Needs Assessment which identified the housing needs for each Comox Valley community for the next five years. These five year Housing Needs Reports are a recent requirement of local governments in BC. Therefore, in addition to the OCP population and dwelling count information presented above, additional housing information, including shorter term housing needs, for Courtenay are included here. • Projected housing needs by 2025: • 30 bachelor units, • 65 1-bedroom units, • 345 2-bedroom units, • 570 3+ bedroom units. • Different types of dwelling units (with population grows. The demand for family oriented rental dwellings with 3+ bedrooms is particularly high. • The median sale prices across all dwelling types in Courtenay were generally stable for most of the past ten years, then began to rise more rapidly in 2017. Prices for all dwelling types in 2019 were 50% higher than the average for 2010-2016; they continued to rise dramatically throughout 2020 and 2021. • The private market is not able to provide housing for a significant proportion of the Comox Valley, and more residents than ever are at risk of homelessness or already in an unsustainable housing situation. The Needs Assessment found that there is a need for more subsidized, supportive, and emergency housing. different numbers of bedrooms) are needed as the family-oriented rental

City of Courtenay Official Community Plan