Fraser Highway Employment Lands
Overview
The Township of Langley is developing a Fraser Highway Employment Lands Area Plan. The Plan will increase industrial land supply from rural land and provide employment opportunities for Township residents.
Updates
March 19, 2025
At the March 10, 2025 Council Meeting, Township Council provided updated direction to staff regarding the Fraser Highway Employment Lands. Among other items, the direction includes hosting a third open house to present a revised concept plan for public feedback, and the completion of a Reference Plan for the area for Council to use as a framework for evaluating individual development applications seeking amendments to Metro Vancouver’s Regional Growth Strategy.
See the March 10, 2025 Council Agenda (section P. 2) and the Council Meeting video for more information.
February 21, 2025
Read the What We Heard Report 2 for information on Winter 2025 Phase 3 public engagement activities related to this Area Plan.
January 9, 2025
Phase 3 of the planning process will take place in Winter 2025 and will focus on the draft area plan and policy language. Updates of ongoing planning work will be provided. See more about upcoming public engagement opportunities, below.
November 29, 2024
Read the What We Heard Report for information on Fall 2024 public engagement activities related to this Area Plan.
Background
On February 27, 2023, Township of Langley Council directed staff to prepare a Terms of Reference for a Fraser Highway Employment Lands Area Plan, which was approved on December 4, 2023.
The Metro Vancouver region has faced a significant decline in vacant industrial land supply over the last decade. This shortage of industrial land supply can be attributed to multiple factors, one of which is the loss of large industrial sites in core urban areas to higher density development, such as residential and mixed-use, in many Metro Vancouver communities.
The Fraser Highway Employment Lands, a corridor along Fraser Highway between 228 Street and 240 Street, are comprised of approximately 500 acres of lands that are not within the Agricultural Land Reserve. Thoughtful and strategic planning for these lands will ensure effective use of industrial sites, create employment opportunities for Township residents, and increase the non-residential tax base.
The Plan Area is also home to valued environmental assets, including several water courses that support wetlands and critical habitat areas. These environmental features will be considered and protected throughout the planning process.
Redesignating the lands within the Plan Area from Rural to Industrial will be contingent on Metro Vancouver Regional District Board approving an amendment to the Regional Growth Strategy - Metro 2050.
Timeline |
| This project is being undertaken from summer/fall 2024 through fall 2025 (expected), in four phases supported by public engagement. |
|
Phase 1 – Planning principles and development concepts (July - September 2024) |
|
Focused on background research, environmental fieldwork and an assessment of market trends and conditions. |
|
Phase 2 – Vision and development options (October - December 2024) |
|
The feedback provided at the first community open house enabled the Township to draft a vision statement and planning principles. A series of concept plans were created based on that vision and set of principles. |
|
Phase 3 – Draft area plan and policy language (Winter 2025) |
|
>> We are here << Feedback was provided on the concept plans at the second community open house. A draft Area Plan will be created and refined over the coming months. The draft Plan and bylaw amendment will be presented to Council and a public hearing will be held. When ready, the Township will seek to amend the Regional Growth Strategy by redesignating land within the Plan Area from Rural to Industrial. This process may take up to 6 months to complete. |
|
Phase 4 – Draft area plan (following Regional Growth Strategy amendment) |
|
A draft Land Use Plan will be prepared, refined and presented to Council for adoption. Phase 4 will begin once Metro Vancouver approves the Regional Growth Strategy amendment. |
Public engagement opportunities
Phase 3 Open House - January 2025
Thank you to all those who attended the drop-in open house and provided your feedback.
Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025
Time: 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: Church in the Valley, 23589 Old Yale Rd
View the open house information boards.
Winter 2025 Phase 3 What We Heard Report 2.
The feedback form closed on Thursday, February 13, 2025.
| Phase 2 Open House - October 2024 |
|
Thank you to all those who attended the drop-in open house to learn more about this initiative and provided feedback. Date: Tuesday October 22, 2024 Time: 5 - 8pm Location: Church in the Valley, 23589 Old Yale Rd View the open house information boards here. The feedback period is now closed. Fall 2024 What We Heard Report. |
Other information
- Council Report and Terms of Reference – December 4, 2023
- Metro Vancouver’s Regional Growth Strategy - Metro 2050
Questions
If you have specific questions about this initiative, email us at cpp@tol.ca
Stay informed
Subscribe to updates for our Public Engagement webpage (green button above right), subscribe to our eNewsletters, and follow us on social media for updates and information on all public engagement initiatives.