Langley Advance Times is offering this weekly feature called it “At Your Service.”
It’s another forum in which to put questions to our local politicians about key issues facing our community and its residents.
Using a basic question-and-answer format, elected officials will be asked one question at a time and given the opportunity to respond (to a maximum of 250 words) on that said issue.
Alternating between elected groups, Langley City and Langley Township councils, Langley school board, Langley MLAs, and Langley MPs each have a chance to participate.
The answers provided will be published in their entirety online Sundays.
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QUESTION
Langley Township council was asked: What is the right mix of housing and other land uses along 200th Street through Willoughby?
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ANSWERS
Mayor Eric Woodward
A. Along 200th Street, from Willowbrook to the Highway #1 interchange, there still remains a great opportunity for the Township of Langley to do better.
We can still create an updated balance of market and rental housing, employment lands and more mixed-use areas. We can create a fantastic regional arts and entertainment destination at the Langley Events Centre. All with rapid transit projected within the next five years.
To get there, to maximize that opportunity, we need to update some obsolete urban planning.
And our new council started that process at one of its first meetings, a high-level review of the corridor called 200 Street 2040. Public input will be later this year, with a new modern vision to be considered by council before year end.
Finding the right balance of housing is critical.
The Township has already created a lot of single-family and townhouses on key sections of 200th Street. Now we need more rental, transit-oriented development, more affordable options for young people and seniors.
We can provide for single-family, lower density, more expensive housing options in other areas not projected for rapid transit.
It’s critical council ensures residents and taxpayers benefit first and foremost from a better plan: a more livable Willoughby: more parks, great facilities, finished roads and sidewalks, more open spaces, all within an updated direction forward.
The 200th Street corridor will be what we make it over the next 10 years.
Let’s get it right. Let’s make it something we will be proud of.
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Councillor Tim Baillie
A. The mix of housing I favour for 200th Street, through Willoughby,is a well planned and executed mix of market and rental.
A key to this will be to get rapid transit in this corridor. Increased transit will accommodate housing for affordable options, especially seniors and young persons.
With this increased housing, COVID has shown us that they must have options for recreation, outside activities such as walking, biking, running, etc. Parks and other recreation like sports fields, courts, etc. will need to be part of the planning and implementation of this increased densification.
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Councillor Steve Ferguson
A. This council member failed to reply to this query, prior to deadline.
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Councillor Margaret Kunst
A. This council member failed to reply to this query, prior to deadline.
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Councillor Barb Martens
A. A review of that corridor is needed, “200 Street 2040,” and with public input.
This process will guide how we move forward while considering the best interests of the community, now and for the future.
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Councillor Michael Pratt
A. This council member failed to reply to this query, prior to deadline.
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Councillor Kim Richter
A. In my opinion, the 200th Street corridor should be a high density, rapid transit, affordable housing corridor consisting of a mix of unit sizes from one to three bedrooms.
It should also have a bonus-density provision in return for preservation of existing mature trees and natural ecosystems/wildlife corridors.
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Councillor Rob Rindt
A. This council member failed to reply to this query, prior to deadline.
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Councillor Misty vanPopta
A. We have an unprecedented opportunity to create an amazing community along the 200th Street corridor.
At the centre of a true corridor is the way people move around. Whether it be cycling, walking, cars or bus, the 200th corridor needs to encompass it all.
To get efficient and rapid transit, we need to create a certain level of density. Market housing, rental housing and mixed use density, along with the amenities to support the residents are all equally important.
The next five years of planning and build out will see the fruition of an amazing transformation of the corridor.
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UP NEXT
Next week’s Langley school district trustees are being asked: Is there enough parent participation in the Langley School District, and how can the district find the right balance of family engagement across all schools?
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Watch for their answers online Sunday.
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PAST COVERAGE
AT YOUR SERVICE: City council weighs in on supervised consumption sites
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AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs suggest staying the course on battling of B.C. wildfire
AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs call for borders to be safely re-opened
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AT YOUR SERVICE: Passports key to keeping B.C. businesses open, people safe during pandemic
AT YOUR SERVICE: Trustees ponder what kids are missing out on during pandemic
AT YOUR SERVICE: Education should trump rules for vaccination of health-care workers, suggest MLAs
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AT YOUR SERVICE: Liberal caucus floats all-party committee in reaction to emergencies
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AT YOUR SERVICE: Inflation inevitably hits City taxpayers in the pocketbook
AT YOUR SERVICE: Future of Aldergrove core up for debate
AT YOUR SERVICE: Trees and more greenspace at root of climate change solutions
AT YOUR SERVICE: Inflation inevitably hits City taxpayers in the pocketbook
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AT YOUR SERVICE: High gas prices of concern for MLAs of both stripes
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AT YOUR SERVICE: Canada must continue its support of Ukraine, MPs
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AT YOUR SERVICE: Federal parties working on multiple fronts to end hate crimes
AT YOUR SERVICE: Langley City ponders cannabis retail policy
AT YOUR SERVICE – Most on council say parks and rec plans address future growth
AT YOUR SERVICE: School district moves forward on reconciliation efforts with Indigenous partners
AT YOUR SERVICE: MLAs agree diking upgrades needed, divided on if enough is being done
AT YOUR SERVICE: Local MPs disagree on whether 2 billion trees can be planted by 2030
AT YOUR SERVICE: In light of SkyTrain coming, Langley City embarks on parking study
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AT YOUR SERVICE: Opposition MLAs critical of NDP’s affordable housing record
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AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs debate how feds chose to halt trucker convoy
AT YOUR SERVICE: New Langley City council look for solutions to rising costs
AT YOUR SERVICE – A few Langley Township council members speak to ongoing single-family home demands
AT YOUR SERVICE: Political views aside, MLAs wish residents health and safety this holiday
AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs agree new year’s resolution must focus on inflation
AT YOUR SERVICE: New floodplain report coming to council this spring
AT YOUR SERVICE – Protected bike lanes on key Township roads is encouraged by council
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AT YOUR SERVICE: MPs agree new year’s resolution must focus on inflation
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