March 29, 2024

A proposed development has the Township of Langley and Metro Vancouver at odds

A proposed university district to be built around Trinity Western University has the Township of Langley at loggerheads with Metro Vancouver.

 The regional district says the development proposal in Agricultural Land Reserve violates the new regional growth strategy.

 Langley Township Mayor Jack Froese disagrees.

 “When it comes to regional planning this is one issue and I think it boils down to a legal opinion, a legal definition, they receive legal advice and we receive legal advice so I would rather work through this with them and come to a resolution we are proceeding under our due process in our municipality which we believe is fully within the law and they have a different opinion.”

  Froese says local government, not Metro Vancouver, has the final say about what is to be built in the area.

  “Metro Vancouver has taken an opposing view they say that we are in conflict and that we are direct collision with our regional contact statement that is there opinion and they are entitled to it. We are proceeding lawfully and if they choose to seek a court order to quash it, as they did before, if it goes all the way through to fourth reading that is there right but we are not on conflict with them we are just proceeding lawfully.”

 Froese says although he would like to work it out with the regional district, a legal battle could be looming.

 “We had a resolution that had passed fourth reading. We had listened to Metro Vancouver and I had asked council to rescind that fourth reading so we could engage all of our neighbouring communities, Metro Vancouver, first nations, the city of Langley, interested parties.”

 Froese says Metro Vancouver is failing to factor in a two year transition period for the new regional growth strategy.

CKNW Vancouver News

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