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Langley Township to look at repealing neighbourhood plans over NDP housing law

Click to play video: 'Langley Township votes to consider planning repeal'
Langley Township votes to consider planning repeal
Due to provincial housing legislation, Langley Township councillors have voted to consider repealling neighbourhood plans. The potential repeal would undo almost a decade's planning for three neighbourhoods in the South Langley area – Dec 5, 2023

The Township of Langley has taken a step towards scrapping a trio of neighbourhood plans in reaction to new housing legislation from the BC NDP government.

At issue is the government’s new Bill 44, which will require municipalities to allow up to four units on a standard residential lot.

Click to play video: 'Township of Langley pushes back against new provincial housing rules'
Township of Langley pushes back against new provincial housing rules

Township councillors are concerned that those regulations, if applied to three planned but yet to be developed neighbourhoods, would see their expected population jump from 47,000 to 115,000.

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The area currently does not have the infrastructure, parks or schools for that large of a jump in population, Township of Langley Mayor Eric Woodward told Global News.

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“We would potentially be creating a neighbourhood of double what community had its input on, so we held a public hearing on these plans,” he said.

“It’s responsible to go back and at the very least engage with the public and find out, there will be a public hearing on that potential repeal.”

Click to play video: 'Demand for development puts pressure on Langley Township infrastructure'
Demand for development puts pressure on Langley Township infrastructure

On Monday, council approved a motion to consider repealing the Booth, Rinn and Fernridge neighbourhood plans in January.

That meeting will come after the city confirms the details of the province’s new regulations and that no exemptions will be available for the planned developments.

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Woodward said that when the issue comes back to council that residents will be able to weigh in on whether to scrap the plans or not, and that one possible outcome would be to proceed with them despite the new provincial laws.

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