A rural lot in the 27000 block of 8 Avenue could become a temporary parking location for up to 90 semi trucks in the near future after the Township council approved a three-year use permit for the site.
The site is not in the Agricultural Land Reserve, but it is currently zoned for rural use.
A report by Township staff said the plan is to demolish some existing buildings on the site and fill in a pond on its north side to make way for the truck parking facility. Other levels of government will have to sign off on some of the work, including filling in the pond.
The permit comes as the Township and other municipalities are trying to find more space for large trucks to park.
Last year, the Township cracked down on illicit truck parking lots that were starting to pop up on land zoned for farming in South Langley. Rural residents complained that landowners were renting out space to dozens of trucks in neighbourhoods not zoned for any industrial use.
Meanwhile, truckers complained about the dire shortage of parking for large rigs. A growing population and a scarcity of industrial land has meant that there are very few places where they can park, with some drivers having to leave their trucks hours away from their homes, if they can find anywhere legal to leave them at all.
In response, the Township has approved some temporary use permits for land in the Aldergrove area, and is also allowing on-street truck parking during certain hours in the Gloucester Industrial Estates in north Aldergrove.
Mayor Eric Woodward said the site will fill some of the need for more truck parking.
"We've hard loud and clear about that," he said.
The temporary use permit was approved unanimously.
