Township’s waterfront lands in Fort Langley
Overview
The Township of Langley is developing a Fort Langley Public Waterfront Concept Plan and wants to gather more input from people in the Township, including those with connections to the Fort Langley community, on creating a future vision for the Township’s waterfront lands in Fort Langley.
In 2023, a survey was launched to gather feedback from the public to determine if their current ideas remain consistent with the past input. The Township then worked with consultants to complete a technical review of the area to determine what amenities may be feasible on this waterfront land.
View an aerial map of the area
This next phase of public consultation will present the preliminary concept plan for the Fort Langley Public Waterfront for the purpose of gathering more feedback on what is being proposed for the space.
Background
Since 2007 the Township has engaged the public and Fort Langley community members regarding the waterfront lands through four consultation processes that included workshops, stakeholder meetings, open houses, surveys and more. Feedback has consistently shown support for new public gathering and performance spaces, better walking and cycling links, additional parking, water sports facilities, activity areas for public participation, improved water access for people and small boats, trees for shade, and other uses.
Public engagement options
Drop-in open house
Thank you to all those who attended this initial open house and provided feedback:
Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024
Time: 4 - 8pm
Location: Riverside Community Room, 9277 Glover Road (along the Fort Langley Boardwalk behind the Fort Pub and Grill)
View the May 16 open house information boards.
Past public engagement outcomes
Summary of consultation activities and feedback - June 2023 |
The Township of Langley gathered current feedback from people in the Township, including those with connections to the Fort Langley community, to reaffirm and/or update previous public input about the future vision for the Township’s waterfront lands in Fort Langley. People provided feedback by completing an online survey to let the Township know if their current ideas remain consistent with past input, applicable to the Township’s waterfront lands in Fort Langley. The Township then worked with consultants to complete a technical review of the area to determine what amenities may be feasible on this waterfront land. The next step was to analyze the survey results in conjunction with the technical reviews. View an aerial map of the area Online surveyThe survey is now closed. Thank you for your feedback. See a summary of the survey outcomes here.
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Summary of consultation activities and feedback - 2007-2022 |
Four rounds of public consultation over the past 16 years has provided the Township of Langley with significant feedback regarding Fort Langley’s waterfront and community desires for its spaces. While not all of these consultation activities were focused specifically on the waterfront lands east of Glover Road, they can each provide valuable input towards a future vision for this area. Based on input previously received from the public, youth, and other key stakeholder groups, several key priorities were consistently identified:
Stakeholder groups engaged in previous consultation processes include:
Find more details of each consultation process listed below on this page. |
2007 stakeholder consultation – waterfront areas east and west of Glover Road |
Summary: The outreach conducted in 2007 consisted of 10 workshops with key stakeholder groups in Fort Langley followed by a design charette. Through the workshops it was reported that people come to Fort Langley for: shopping; walking; cycling; watersports such as canoeing and paddling; museums and heritage; camping; and for the unique village character. The facilitators observed a desire for a park that would provide: pedestrian and cycling links; public gathering space suited for events such as regattas; parking; and facilities for watersports such as paddling and canoeing. The stakeholders also supported the creation of an ‘urban experience’ at Glover Road, with cafes/bistros and unique shops. Participants in the workshops were generally not in favour of including facilities like a library, police station or museum on the waterfront. How: series of 10 workshops and a design charette. Who: Between 10 to 20 people per workshop and 50 people in the charette representing the following organizations/groups: Fort Langley Canoe Club, Fort Langley Rowing Club and GO Row BC, Power boat owners, Kwantlen First Nation Commercial Fishers, Fort Langley Business Improvement Area, Chamber of Commerce, Community Heritage Commission, Land Use and Planning Committee, BC Farm Machinery and Agricultural Museum Board, Museum Committee, Langley Heritage Society Board, Fort Langley Improvement Society, Fort Langley Community Association, Fort Langley Lions Club, Friends of the Fort Club, University of the Fraser Valley, Trinity Western University, Parklane Homes, Pacific Land Group, GVRD (now Metro Vancouver) Parks and Parks Canada. |
2018 public consultation – waterfront park east of Glover Road, pedestrian overpass, museum and associated development |
Summary: In 2018 the Township of Langley hosted a large public open house where a waterfront park, pedestrian rail overpass, cultural centre, museum and townhouse development were presented for feedback through a survey. 750 people attended the open house. 341 surveys were returned. Over 90% or respondents were in favour of the waterfront park, overpass and use of the Haldi (Bedford) House as a public amenity on the waterfront. The public confirmed the need for public gathering space, pedestrian and cycling links, public access to the Fraser River, facilities for watersports such as canoeing and paddling, parking, as well as a launch for small boats. How: Public Open House Who: General public (around 750 attendees, 341 surveys returned) |
2021 youth consultation – Fort Langley Park |
Summary: While not specific to the waterfront, a youth outreach campaign was launched in 2021 to gather information about the desired uses for Fort Langley Park at 9089 Nash Street. This input also reveals more general park space priorities for students in the area. The Township conducted workshops at four schools: D.W. Poppy Secondary, Walnut Grover Secondary, Fort Langley Elementary and Fort Langley Fine Arts. In general, it was found that the youth desired spaces to relax and hang out, links for walking and cycling, spaces for live music and events, sports facilities for soccer, hockey, outdoor swimming, basketball, a skatepark and trees for shade. How: Workshops at four schools near Fort Langley Who: Students from D.W. Poppy Secondary, Walnut Grover Secondary, Fort Langley Elementary, Fort Langley Fine Arts |
2022 public consultation – waterfront development and park |
Summary: In 2022 a team of developers approached the Township of Langley with a proposal for developing the Fraser River waterfront area between Glover Road and the Crown Lands to the East. This included a mixed-use building, parking and waterfront park, and the proposed relocation of the Haldi (Bedford) House to the west end of Fort Langley. The proponents conducted public outreach to gauge support for the project through a survey, a public information meeting and a stakeholder meeting. 232 surveys were returned. The survey results suggested that people supported public gathering spaces, pedestrian and cycling links, access to the Fraser River, and parking. Some respondents were opposed to relocating the Haldi (Bedford) House away from the waterfront. How: Stakeholder meeting, public information meeting and public survey Who: General public (around 150 attended public meeting), Public survey (232 returned), Stakeholder meeting including Kwantlen First Nation, Fort Langley Canoe Club, Bedford Rowing Society, Fort Langley Community Association, Langley Heritage Society, Fort Langley Project, Heritage Advisory Committee and HUB Cycling. |
Questions
Contact project staff at parksdev@tol.ca
More information
Visit this website periodically for updates and next steps as they are determined.
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