April 9th, 2024

As mentioned in previous updates, on March 25th, Council gave third and final reading to the Smith Neighbourhood Plan Update. The accompanying Community Amenity Contributions Policy was referred back to staff to reconsider the projected rates for the Smith Neighbourhood Plan and Williams Neighbourhood Plan, reviewing additional densities and economic conditions. 

During the meeting, Council amended the bylaw to state that for lands designated low-density or high-density apartments, increases in height and/or density up to those permitted in the medium-density mixed-use designation will be considered for the delivery of local-serving, retail-services uses or childcare. Another amendment was made to clarify that the provision of 50% of the ground floor designated as commercial is encouraged but not required and that up to a 50% commercial parking requirement will be considered based on the provision of on-street parking. 

More information can be found in the full report by Township staff. 



 

January 12th, 2024

On December 18th, 2023, Council gave First Reading to the Langley OCP Bylaw Amendment (Smith Neighbourhood Plan). The Smith Neighbourhood Plan (SNP) has been updated per Council direction given on November 14th, 2022. Staff were directed to make changes outlining preferred timelines and feedback from the public open house before going to a public hearing. The public open house will take place in January 2024, and the public hearing in March 2024.

Key planning components in the SNP are outlined below:

Land Use Concept

• Higher residential densities are located along major roads with lower-density areas away from busy arterial roads. There are two mixed-use nodes at 72 Avenue and 208 Street and 76 Avenue and 208 Street. Both nodes help in creating more “walkable” neighborhoods by providing access to convenient commercial uses within walking distance of residents.

Parks, Open Space and Trails
 

• The updated SNP provides clearly defined sizes, numbers, and locations of all parks and open spaces. A portion of the Major Park, as outlined in the Willoughby Community Plan, has been clearly defined in the Smith neighborhood, north of the 212 Street Connector and east of 208A Street. The park will provide a major focus for the neighborhood, the Willoughby community, and the Township. A robust trail network remains intact with connections for pedestrians and cyclists, connecting throughout the neighborhood and to adjacent areas.

Schools

• In the existing (2017) SNP, the provision of a combined neighborhood park - an elementary school site on the west side of 208 Street is a development prerequisite that has not been met.

Special Study Area (SSA)

Appropriate land use designations and policies will be added to the SNP in the future to replace the SSA designation to address:

• Land use and density
• Alignment of roads
• Protection of treed areas
• Provision of a combined neighborhood park - elementary school site
• Continuity of wildlife corridors, greenways, trails, open spaces, and parks
• Provision of stormwater management and water and sewer systems

Once the SSA designation is replaced with specific land use designations, the existing Smith Engineering Services Plan, the Willoughby Greenway Amenity Policy, and the Community Amenity Contributions Policy will be updated.

More information can be found in the full report by Township staff and the Smith Neighbourhood Plan.