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
May 16, 2025
At the March 10, 2025 Council Meeting, Council provided updated direction to staff regarding the Fraser Highway Employment Lands due to concerns raised by the community about the planning area boundaries and the need for more specific designations for existing and proposed land uses. More specifically, Council directed staff to:
- draft a Reference Plan for the Fraser Highway Employment Lands Plan Area
- redefine the planning area boundaries
- consider opportunities to retain some existing residential, commercial, and institutional uses, while accommodating new low-impact industrial and institutional uses
- restrict truck access from Old Yale Road for transportation and trucking operations
- host a 3rd open house to present a revised concept plan for public feedback
See the March 10, 2025 Council Agenda (section P. 2) and the Council Meeting video for more information.
Learn more and provide your feedback at the phase 4 drop-in open house on Monday, June 16.
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 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. As per Council direction on March 10, 2025, Regional Growth Strategy amendment applications to Metro Vancouver will be made on a site-by-site basis.
Timeline |
| This project is being undertaken from summer/fall 2024 through fall 2025 (expected), in four phases supported by public engagement. |
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Phase 1 – Planning principles and development concepts (July - September 2024) |
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Focused on background research, environmental fieldwork and an assessment of market trends and conditions. |
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Phase 2 – Vision and development options (October - December 2024) |
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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. |
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Phase 3 – Updated direction (Winter/Spring 2025) |
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Feedback was provided on the concept plans at the second community open house. Council then provided updated direction for staff to review the planning area boundaries and to retain select land uses within the planning area. |
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Phase 4 – Draft reference plan (Spring/Summer/Fall 2025) |
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A revised concept plan will be presented at an open house in June for public feedback. A draft Reference Plan will then be prepared, refined and presented to Council for adoption. |
Public engagement opportunities
Phase 4 Open House – June 2025
Attend the drop-in open house and provide your feedback on the revised Fraser Highway Employment Lands concept plan.
Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
Time: 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: Church in the Valley, 23589 Old Yale Road
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Phase 3 Open House - January 2025 |
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Thank you to all those who attended the drop-in open house and provided your feedback. Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025 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 |
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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
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