Digging deeper: the Research phase

While the Official Community Plan provides a good introduction to the Village and its policies regarding development, Trilogy needed to know more about the actual characteristics of each its lots before it could begin its real Master Plan work.

For example, while the OCP provides a clear overview of the core values of the community as a whole, Trilogy was very interested in knowing about the specific features of its lands that the citizens value most. To that end, a formal Community Mapping exercise was held in Cumberland in December 2005, where Villagers themselves identified those habitats, views and other “special places” that they felt were important for the developer to know about and respect.

Other reports commissioned by Trilogy documented the physical aspects of the lands from the point of view of their topography, geology, geotechnical and sub-surface aspects, hydrology, and stormwater characteristics. Environmental features, wildlife, and vegetation were identified and inventoried, and recommendations were made regarding habitat planning for the Trilogy lands.

Understanding infrastructure and transportation requirements

Because the lots are not presently serviced, infrastructure studies had to be included in the early research stages to make certain that they could be serviced, and to suggest how their servicing might best be integrated with existing Village infrastructure. Transportation studies were undertaken to to understand Ministry of Transportation requirements regarding the Trilogy lands, and to ensure that all the lands could be safely accessed.

Exploring market potential

Market potential was analyzed from both a Retail/ Commercial and a Residential perspective. These reports studied the past and projected population trends for the Comox Valley as a whole, looked at neighbouring municipalities, and made recommendations based on the location, size, shape, visibility and adjacency of various Trilogy lots. Because adding new residential properties to a community can impact the school district, School Impact reports were also commissioned.

Note: All reports commissioned to date are available through the sidebar on the right. When the master file opens in any particular category, it's easiest to view the sub-folders as a list rather than as icons -- that way, you can see the Name, Author and Date most easily.

The Composite Plan
As reports are compiled, all information gleaned from the research is overlaid on large- scale maps of the lands. When these maps are put together, they become the foundation for all subsequent planning & design.


Independent Research
Responsible development listens to independent research as well as to commissioned studies, especially when it comes from respected sources


Hot Properties
David Suzuki Foundation, 2007

© 2008 Trilogy Properties Inc