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{{Infobox settlement
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|official_name = Arbutus Ridge Retirement Community
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|settlement_type = Bare Land Strata Corporation
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|postal_code_type = Postal code span
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|postal_code = [[List of V Postal Codes of Canada|V0R 1L1]]
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Revision as of 01:23, 9 February 2012

Arbutus Ridge Retirement Community
Bare Land Strata Corporation
Canada Day Festivities
Canada Day Festivities
Country Canada
Province British Columbia
Regional DistrictCowichan Valley
Incorporated1987
Elevation
100 m (300 ft)
Population
 (2009)
 • Total1,032
Time zoneUTC−8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Postal code span
V0R 1L1
Highways1
WaterwaysStrait of Georgia
WebsiteArbutus Ridge Retirement Community

Arbutus Ridge is an age-restricted, gated retirement community located on the southeastern coast of Vancouver Island in the Cobble Hill Electoral Area[1] of British Columbia’s Cowichan Valley Regional District[2]. “Arbutus Ridge was the first comprehensive retirement community built in Canada, which subsequently became the template and proving ground for what has since become recognized as an accepted and, in fact now commonplace age-specific form of housing.”[3]

Characteristics of the Location

The community is constructed on a ridge, rising 100 m+ above sea level, overlooking Satellite Channel of the Strait of Georgia in the Salish Sea. Satellite Channel is part of Parks Canada’s proposed Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area announced in 2011[4] to ensure ecological sustainability of the marine environment.

The community is 6 km north of Mill Bay, 18 km south of Duncan, 50 km north of Victoria and 70 km south of Nanaimo. A provincial Forests Ministry brochure compares the climate in this area to other locations in Canada: “This small corner of the province enjoys perhaps the finest climate in Canada. Sheltered by the rain shadow of the Vancouver Island and Olympic Mountains, and warmed by the air from the Pacific, the area basks in a Mediterranean-like environment of warm, sunny summers and mild wet winters. Unlike more exposed coastal areas, this zone experiences long, dry summers, a major factor in its ecology.”[5].

The Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia examined the development of retirement communities over the past two decades. In 2009 they commissioned a survey of patterns and trends to better prepare municipal governments for integration with such communities. Their survey of coastal retirement communities in the province in 2009 categorized Arbutus Ridge as a “Master Planned Lifestyle Gated Community”. Their report compared relevant attributes of Arbutus Ridge and eight more recently established retirement communities on Vancouver Island[6].

Present Scope of the Community

In a June 2000 article[7] on Arbutus Ridge, the Victoria Times-Colonist reported: “Twelve years after the project’s inception, a new generation is buying into the landscape of Vancouver Island’s only gated adult community.” “By the time the last phase is complete, there will be 657 homes creating a community of about 1,200 people.” “The strata bylaws state that only two people can live in a home and one partner in a couple must be over 50 years old.”

"Both demands and house sizes have increased since the development was first created in 1988. The first houses built in the community were 1,000-1,400 square foot, one-level designs that were either semi-detached patio homes or ranchers without basements. By 1992, the developer was following the lead of major US retirement builders...a second level with a walk-out basement and sizes ranging 1,800 to 2,100 square feet. In the newest phase, 80% of the homes are 2,400-2,800 square feet."

"For common property and services, residents contribute...a fee...monthly to the strata corporation to manage everything from road maintenance and sewage treatment to garbage collection and security."

"Wrapped around a golf course, Arbutus Ridge is not a one-dimensional community. Far from being isolated, residents are active volunteers at the local hospital or assistants in the schools."

Statistics Canada’s 2006 Census classified Arbutus Ridge as "a designated unincorporated place in the Cowichan Valley" and reported a population of 1,006. BCStats division of the provincial Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services subsequently used the census data and reported 30 pages of demographic documentation and analysis for the community[8]. As reported by the BC Real Estate Foundation survey[9], this “master planned lifestyle gated community” comprises “650 individual residential units” and includes “lifestyle amenities golf, health, business centre, with an activity coordinator”. The residential neighbourhoods intertwine[10] with the 18-hole Arbutus Ridge Golf Course[11]. The community is almost completely developed and the number of houses and the number of residents will not increase significantly in future. Residents voted in June 2009 to ask the Cowichan Valley Regional District to assume operational responsibility for the water, sanitary sewer and drainage systems[12]. In reporting on this transfer from the developer to the municipality after 20 years, the Cowichan Valley Citizen newspaper described Arbutus Ridge as "a large luxury subdivision, almost a village".

History of the Development

CRC Canadian Retirement Corporation and Burrard International Holdings Inc.

In 1983 James Patrick, the founder of Arbutus Ridge, started researching the need for retirement communities in Canada, considering the pattern established in the Sun City retirement community in Arizona. CRC Canadian Retirement Corporation (“CRC”) was incorporated[13] under the provincial Business Corporations Act on March 25, 1986 to design and build the community of Arbutus Ridge. Cowichan Valley Regional District issued the Development Permit on April 9, 1987.[14].

Arbutus Ridge was incorporated as a bare-land strata, Strata Plan 1601 (SP1601) under what was then called the Condominium Act, (now the Strata Property Act) with registration at the BC Land Title Office in Victoria on November 13, 1987[15]. The “bare land strata” term means that ownership of the land is divided among property owners but each individual house is individually owned and central service buildings are collectively owned. Tidman Construction Ltd. [16] constructed all central buildings and houses. In 1989, with the community about half constructed, the project won the Urban Development Institute Pacific Region’s “Award of Excellence” for having “achieved the highest standard of excellence and…demonstrated innovations in design, community consultation and customer satisfaction.”[17]. To continue to advance with the second half of the development, an Initial Public Offering of the “Arbutus Ridge Development Limited Partnership” was made on September 1, 1989. The original IPO prospectus from RBC Dominion Securities Inc. provided background information on the community: financing detail, demographics and appraisal on the basis of amenities, security and relative value of investment [18].

The second half of the development was completed in 1990-92 as the residential section advanced to the south and across Ratcliffe Road. This permitted construction of the last nine holes of the golf course and new clubhouse facility and the covered tennis courts. During the wind-down of the construction of the second half of development, CRC brought in Burrard International Holdings Inc.[19] as a 50% equity partner. Now that Arbutus Ridge is now almost complete, the developer’s day to day involvement in the community is minimal. The Strata Corporation administers the functioning of the community, under the terms of the Strata Property Act, although Burrard maintains a local presence as parent company of the GolfBC Group,[20] owner of the golf course.

Strata Plan 1601 and the Self-Management Era

Self-management of the community began in 1988 with the formation of an Advisory Council, followed the next year with a fully elected Strata Council. A 7-member volunteer elected Strata Council is now responsible for the control, management and administration of the common property, common facilities and the assets of the Strata Corporation. The Strata Council is elected annually at the community’s AGM and represents the owners internally, and in all matters regulated by the Strata Property Act. Administration is carried out in accordance with the Strata Property Act of British Columbia, and governed by the corporation's registered bylaws and rules. SP1601 staff is responsible for the overall operation and fiscal management.[21].

Additionally, the Arbutus Ridge Ratepayers Association (ARRA) was incorporated[22] on July 19, 1990, under the BC Society Act to represent home owners in external matters such as health, transportation, public utilities, community growth and development, environmental protection and social amenities, all of which fall outside the scope of the Strata Property Act.

Regional Recognition

A little more than a decade after the first home owners moved into Arbutus Ridge, regional media were giving coverage to this relatively new trend in retirement living: The Victoria Times-Colonist, in November 2001 stated "Arbutus Ridge which was on the leading edge of the high-end retirement industry when it was started 13 years ago...is now nearly full."

"...Retirees never need to be bored. The leisure options include walking trails, arts and crafts, boating, bridge, tennis, swimming, exercise classes, fishing, computer seminars and woodworking."

"the Ridge...is enclosed by walls and guarded by a manned gate, 24 hours a day. Arbutus Ridge was the first (Vancouver) Island housing community to offer what has long been commonplace in many pricey US suburbs-locked gates shielding residents from the outside world[23].

Commenting on the community's 15th anniversary celebration in 2003, the Cowichan Leader Pictorial commented: "nestled in a valley of lush trees, surrounded by spectacular ocean views, lies a quiet adult community that prides itself on providing the young at heart with the best Vancouver Island has to offer"[24].

References

  1. ^ CVRD web page on Electoral Area C
  2. ^ BCStats Location Map
  3. ^ [Communication from the environmental professional who headed up CVRD's municipal planning function at the time of the Arbutus Ridge rezoning review.
  4. ^ Canada News Centre release on proposed Marine Conservation Area, October 13, 2011.
  5. ^ BC Government Brochure on Coastal Douglas-fir Zone Ecology
  6. ^ BC Real Estate Foundation “Comparative Land Use Typologies” survey report
  7. ^ [Down, Susan, “Retiring Style”, Victoria Times-Colonist, June 3, 2000]
  8. ^ “2006 Census Profile, Arbutus Ridge”
  9. ^ BC Real Estate Foundation “Comparative Land Use Typologies” survey report
  10. ^ CVRD Electoral Area map
  11. ^ Arbutus Ridge Golf Course web site.
  12. ^ Cowichan Valley Citizen Coverage of CVRD taking over Arbutus Ridge water and sewer system operation.
  13. ^ [BC Registry Services, Corporate Registry, information records for CRC Canadian Retirement Corporation, company identification BC0306659]
  14. ^ [CVRD Development Permit #1-C-870P to Crown Street Investments Ltd., April 9, 1987]
  15. ^ [The Land Title Office Victoria Land Title District, Strata Plan 1601.]
  16. ^ Tidman Construction Ltd., section on Arbutus Ridge projects
  17. ^ [Confirming letter from UDI, Pacific Region, dated February 01, 2012, from Maureen B. Enser, Executive Director]
  18. ^ [RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Initial Public Offering, “Arbutus Ridge Development Limited Partnership”, September 1, 1989.]
  19. ^ Bloomberg Business Week web page on Burrard International Holdings Inc.
  20. ^ GolfBC Group web site
  21. ^ Arbutus Ridge web site section on Strata details.
  22. ^ [Ministry of Finance, BC Registry Services certificate of incorporation for Arbutus Ridge Ratepayers' Association, society S-0026437]
  23. ^ [Rud, Jeff, “Cheers to a Great Place; More than ever, Island is a magnet for retirees”, Victoria Times-Colonist, November 11, 2001]
  24. ^ [Radke, Andrea “Ridgers Celebrate 15 Years; More than 500 homes now in what used to be a farmer’s field”, Cowichan Leader-Pictorial, July 13, 2003}
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