Township of Langley Council Meeting Update (27-02-2023)

Good morning everyone; Tristan here with an update on the Township Council meeting on February 27th. I'd like to thank the various delegations for coming forward and bringing your discussions to chambers!

In light of this recent meeting, this article will highlight the following...

• A crime report from Superintendent Marsden.
• Fraser highway widening and community plan.
• Updates to the Tree Protection Bylaw and finalization of the Development Application Procedures Bylaw.

In chambers last Monday, we had the opportunity to receive an update from Superintendent Marsden of the Langley RCMP detachment. This was his first update to the new Council, and it was certainly one for the books. Marsden shared that in this last quarter, the RCMP conducted a raid in Brookswood, which led to $10,000 in proceeds of crime, seizures of body armour and crystal meth. Arrests were made on the scene in a major effort from our Langley forces to make our city a safer place. I want to thank the officers here in Langley for your hard work and thank you, Superintendent Marsden, for sharing; as our municipality continues to densify, I am happy we are in such good hands!

While on the topic of densification Council has recently passed a series of motions pertaining to Fraser Highway. Referring to the Council agenda Council these motions included...

• A request for "staff to report to Council outlining for its consideration an updated plan and requirements to complete Fraser Highway from 232 Street to 264 Street by 2030.
• A request for staff direction "to report to Council on the feasibility and cost to provide potable water and fire protection infrastructure along Fraser Highway between 22300 block and 264 Street."
• Direction for "staff to include within the aforementioned report to Council the potential provision of sewerage service along Fraser Highway extended to 248 Street."
• "A new Fraser Highway Employment Lands Area Plan, with public consultation, for an area generally located between 228 Street and 240 Street, based on the Fraser Highway Corridor Study completed in 2020."
• An initiation of "consultation with Metro Vancouver regarding proposed requirements and potential timeline to amend Metro 2050."

What we are seeing here is an exciting effort by Council to streamline the industrial development taking place on Frazer Highway and create a comprehensive plan to stimulate industrial growth. Industrial shortages have been a significant issue these past few years. It is a relief that Council is taking action to increase the land allocation while providing future servicing options. I am looking forward to continued updates on this plan and am interested in seeing Metro's response to the matter.

While on the discussion of local development, we saw the final adoption of the improvements to the development Application Procedures Bylaw and amendments to the Tree Protection Bylaw. The adoption of the development Application Procedures Bylaw ties in directly with Council's agenda to stimulate growth and streamline the development process. The provisions, including industrial applications, clearly reflects their ongoing strides to encourage industrial growth in the Township and will certainly cut back on the time and respective costs incurred during the application process. For more information on the Bylaw, see my article on the 12-12-2022 meeting. To touch on the updates to the tree protection Bylaw, Councillor vanPopta shared that the fees for tree removal will now be adjusted as follows...

• Building envelope, driveway or septic field conflicts to be $2000 per tree.
• Trees inappropriate for their species, size, or location will be $100 per tree.
• Protected trees removed without a permit will be $3000 per tree.

These updates passed with only Councillor Richter opposed.

I hope you enjoyed your read, and I highly encourage you to watch the meeting or review the agenda; many additional discussions took place last Monday that will certainly have an impact here in the Township of Langley. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement and more Regular Council Meeting updates!