Brookswood-Fernridge Community Plan Adopted

A new Brookswood-Fernridge Community Plan was adopted by Township of Langley Council on October 23, putting policies in place that will guide development of the area and allow it to become a livable, complete community over the next 25 years.

The amended, updated 2017 Community Plan replaces an outdated 1987 Community Plan with guidelines that will allow previously undeveloped areas to grow for the future while protecting trees, watercourses, and the environment.

“This is a strong, long-term vision for the future of Brookswood-Fernridge,” said Township of Langley Mayor Jack Froese. “Over the next couple of decades, this community will feature a variety of housing, amenities, shops, parks, greenways, walkable centres, and services, while seeing its valuable natural resources protected.”

The Brookswood-Fernridge Community Plan update process included an extensive public engagement strategy, and numerous events were held so that residents and stakeholders could voice their opinions. Vast amounts of information was compiled by Township staff, and members of Township Council made several amendments to the plan to reflect the values of the community.

“I would like to thank the community for everything they have contributed,” said Froese. “They came out to open houses, workshops, and public hearings, they provided excellent input and had their say. The community has been very patient and I commend them for everything they contributed.”

He also thanked members of Township Council and Township staff for their commitment to the process.

“I am extremely proud of what has been accomplished,” Froese said.

Next steps for Brookswood-Fernridge include the creation of neighbourhood plans, which will provide more detailed policy framework for development and outline details of future neighbourhoods and infrastructure.

Council has directed Township staff to begin creating neighbourhood plans for the Booth and Rinn neighbourhoods, which interface with the existing developed areas of Brookswood, and for the Fernridge neighbourhood, which can be readily serviced by the municipality.

One of the first steps in the neighbourhood planning process is environmental network planning, which will identify priorities for restoring and enhancing important environmental and natural assets that support biodiversity, and completing an updated mapping inventory of environmental features and ecological assets.

Neighbourhood plans typically take between 12 to 18 months to complete, but a significant amount of work has already been undertaken, so the process will likely be finished sooner.

Members of the public are encouraged to stay involved and help shape the future of Brookswood-Fernridge through the upcoming neighbourhood planning process.

On October 23, Council also passed third reading on Brookswood-Fernridge Tree Protection Bylaw 2017 No. 5301, which will regulate, prohibit, and impose requirements in relation to tree clear-cutting prior to development in the undeveloped areas of Brookswood-Fernridge.

Council also asked that necessary bylaw amendments be brought forward to designate the Cedar Creek Manufactured Home Park at 3031 – 200 Street as “Manufactured Home Park” (MHP) in the Brookswood-Fernridge Community Plan and that the required public hearing be scheduled, as soon as is practical.

As of October 23, the Township had received 14 complete development applications in Brookswood-Fernridge, some of which have been in-stream for over two years. Once these applications are approved by Council, some development activity is expected to follow in the affected areas.

Information and updates will continue to be available at tol.ca/brfrcp.