The Union Rd site includes Lots A and D with a combined area of 28.5 acres.

Baseline studies were completed in 2023 with grant funding from the Rural Economic Diversification and Investment Program (REDIP). These included environmental, geotechnical, civil servicing and appraisal. The site is serviced by water after a watermain looping project in 2023 also funded by REDIP.

For high level planning, an area of 6 acres is being reserved for the Operation Centre. This leaves up to 22.5 acres available for disposition (sale or lease).

The adjacent Nikkei No Haka Japanese Cemetery and Chinese Cemetery is an important site characteristic and development must be thoughtfully planned in that area to complement these historic and cultural sites.

The two lots were purchased in 2019 from West Fraser Mills Ltd Inc for $901,684.

The Village engaged land economists to assess the market potential for establishing a new service commercial and retail node on the Union Road site. Funded through the Rural Economic Diversification and Investment Program (REDIP), the study provides guidance for future commercial, retail, and hotel development, aiming to stimulate economic growth, expand tourism opportunities, and support the community's growing population.

The potential land uses were informed by two economic development documents: Investment Attraction Plan (2020) and Economic Development Strategy (2018).

The Union Road Lands, encompassing 28.5 acres with direct access to Highway 19, are ideally positioned to serve both local and regional markets. Analysis of the trade area, which includes Cumberland, Courtenay, Comox, and nearby communities, indicates a projected population increase of 15,000 residents by 2041, alongside rising household incomes and increased spending potential in Cumberland.

Findings from the market analysis reveal strong demand for additional retail and service commercial space, particularly for grocery, general merchandise, health and personal care, food services, and other daily needs. The analysis highlights the opportunity for the development of a retail and service commercial node of 50,000 square feet, anchored by a small grocery store and complemented by a mix of uses including a pharmacy, liquor, general merchandise, restaurant food & beverage, convenience retail, and personal services, requiring an estimated 3 to 3.5 acres of land. Additional analysis supports the development of a 65-room hotel with amenities on Union Road. The hotel site requires up to 2.5 acres, offering opportunities for shared parking and integrated site design with the retail and service commercial node. There is likely opportunity for an integrated development with shared parking, which could bring the combined retail/service commercial plus hotel development land area down to approximately 5 acres combined.

The report encourages the Village to balance revenue generation with support for local business incubation, and to pursue coordinated planning between commercial and hotel uses to maximize land efficiency and infrastructure investment. Further sensitivity testing and detailed site planning are recommended to guide development.

The Village engaged land economists to to better understand how much value some of the lands may yield – in terms of value received through disposition – under different residential development formats. This information will help inform future community and Council discussion around both what mix of land uses is most appropriate at Union Road.

The different residential formats explored range from single-detached dwellings to townhouses, and different densities of apartments with both underground and surface parking.

The Village has outgrown the civic facilities on Dunsmuir Avenue, and they are aging and in need of major renovation or replacement. Once the Public Works yard and offices are moved out of this downtown location, there is more flexibility for redevelopment.

The Village purchased the two dwellings on First Street within this block in 2023 and 2026 to increase flexibility in redeveloping civic facilities. The house at 3249 First St is being rented with preference to Village staff for recruitment. 3273 First St was just purchased in October 2026 and a short-term plan for its use is to be determined by Council.

There may also be opportunities to leverage funds through disposition of some of the Dunsmuir Block, either through partnerships, tenancy of units in a new building, or sale. An economic feasibility analysis will need to be done to help evaluate options such as increasing the density of development to allow for additional, non-civic uses on this block to help generate funds.

The Beaufort Avenue site is 0.79 acre lot on the corner of Beaufort Ave and Silecroft Rd. It is undeveloped and treed. Because of its proximity to the Dunsmuir Block, it could be part of future planning of civic facilities.