Concerned residents of Langley mobile home park pack meeting to stop rezoning

Some of the residents of Forest Green Estates in Langley stood outside Langley Township City Hall on Monday night waving placards informing others about the potential rezoning of the area where they live.

They were concerned that changes to the city’s community plan could lead to development in the area, and force about 300 people from their mobile homes.

The area is a neighbourhood for people 55 and over, with at least one resident over the age of 100.

“Don’t do it, this is paradise,” said one resident.

Forest Green Estates is in an industrial area and is just north of the highway, off 200th Street.

“There’s absolutely no parks available to move any of the homes in here that are able to be moved. The older trailers can’t be moved because they are too old and they won’t allow them on the highway. Where are we going to go?” asked resident Jean Patrick.

Langley Township Mayor Jack Froese said there are several mobile home parks in Langley Township. He said right now the area in question is designated as industrial, but council wants to change that to general urban.

“Whether they understand that or not I’m not sure,” he said. “I think they see change coming but I really want to put them at ease that this is a long term plan.”

He said it has been 34 years since the last community plan. They want to accommodate residents and are not looking to displace any of their seniors.

“I can’t guarantee anything, we’re looking at long term plans,” said Froese. “One thing you have to recognize is we have property owners who own these mobile home parks, and they have to right to come to the Township of Langley with any proposal and we have to look at that proposal.”

The seniors had so many questions at the council meeting, a special information meeting has been organized, and will be held July 22.