The Township of Langley has taken a step towards scrapping a trio of neighbourhood plans in response to the BC NDP government’s new housing legislation.
At issue is the government’s new Bill 44, which requires municipalities to allow up to four units on a standard residential lot.
Township councillors are concerned that if these rules are applied to three planned but undeveloped neighbourhoods, their expected population would jump from 47,000 to 115,000.
The area does not currently have the infrastructure, parks or schools to support such a large population jump, Township of Langley Mayor Eric Woodward told Global News.
“We would potentially be creating a neighbourhood that is twice the size of what the community had input into, so we held a public hearing on these plans,” he said.
“It’s responsible to go back and at least engage with the public and find out, there will be a public hearing on this potential repeal.”
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.
Woodward said that when the issue comes back to council, residents will be able to weigh in on whether or not to scrap the plans, and that one possible outcome would be to proceed with them despite the new provincial laws.