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Langley Township council considers Statewood impasse

Council has asked for information on projects of a local developer.
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A vacant house owned by Statewood Properties near Glover Road in Fort Langley. (Langley Advance files)

Langley Township council has asked its staff for briefing notes on the projects of Statewood Properties in Fort Langley.

In November, Statewood owner Eric Woodward said he would “mothball” a few commercial properties and houses and give up on attempts to develop others, blaming what he said was an unreasonable Township bureaucracy.

His properties include a significant number of lots on or near Glover Road, including the former site of Jim’s Pizzeria.

Councillor Blair Whitmarsh said he was hoping to get the report so that council can be aware of any projects that were underway.

A proposal for the site that included the pizzeria and some nearby vacant lots and empty houses had stalled after Woodward’s plans for a boutique hotel ran into Township requests for a lane.

“I would really love it if Mr. Woodward brought forward that project [to council],” Whitmarsh said.

Whitmarsh said he spoke to Woodward about the issue in the fall, and believes that they can find a solution.

In his statement in November, Woodward said he would simply leave sites empty, and had no plans to develop any other properties outside of Fort Langley, either.

Woodward was the developer behind the Coulter Berry building, the design of which was controversial with some Fort residents. He also owns the Fort Mall and other commercial properties.

The memo to council was expected to be completed late in the week.



Matthew Claxton

About the Author: Matthew Claxton

Raised in Langley, as a journalist today I focus on local politics, crime and homelessness.
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