Proposed Regional Parks Bylaw Update: E-Bikes, Alcohol in Parks, and Dog Leashes

The Metro Vancouver Regional District is proposing several changes to the bylaw regulating regional park use. I wanted to highlight some of the proposed changes.

Right now, e-bikes are technically not permitted in regional parks (outside of roadways), even in areas where human-powered-only bikes are permitted. The proposed update will allow e-bikes to be used wherever traditional bikes are permitted.

The District is also looking to allow electric kick scooters on designated trails and greenways.

Regarding dogs, the Regional District is looking at reducing the allowed leash length from 5 metres to 2.5 metres to ensure that people can keep their pets under control better. The District is also looking to make Codd Wetland Ecological Conservancy Area a no-dog area.

The proposed bylaw changes also include an update around requirements for camping in regional parks for people who are experiencing homelessness. People experiencing homelessness will be allowed to camp in grassy areas that are not in ecological conservancy areas, park reserves, or any other ecologically sensitive areas.

The Regional District also proposes extending their pilot program, allowing people to consume alcohol in specific areas of regional parks from Friday, May 16, 2025, to Monday, October 13, 2025.

The areas are:

• Boundary Bay Regional Park at Centennial Beach
• Brunette Fraser Regional Greenway at Sapperton Landing
• Campbell Valley Regional Park at the 8th Avenue Picnic Area/Order of Canada Grove
• Capilano River Regional Park at the Cleveland Dam Picnic Area
• Derby Reach Regional Park at the Day Use Area adjacent to Edgewater Bar campground
• The Iona Beach Regional Park Picnic Area

Please read the latest Regional Parks Committee agenda for more information.

March 24 Council Notes: Traffic Lights, Committees, Surety Bonds

Yesterday, I posted about the proposed BC Builds Affordable Rental Mixed-Use Project at 49th Avenue and 200th Street, and today, I will post about the remaining items addressed at Monday's Langley City Council meeting.

Council approved a contract worth $689,700 to Crown Contracting Ltd and $5,300 to W.K. Williams Engineering Consultants Ltd. to upgrade various traffic signals throughout the City. The City is also setting aside a $68,970 contingency for this project.

Council also changed who chairs and co-chairs our Crime Prevention Committee. Councillor Albrecht will chair the committee, and Councillor Solyom will co-chair. If you would like to volunteer for this committee, please visit Langley City's website.

When people build a project in any municipality, they must provide bonds or deposits to the municipality. For example, you must pay a deposit for landscaping in new projects to ensure that the landscaping survives at least a year. Any landscaping that dies after one year needs to be replaced. This deposit is returned after this one year and after the City verifies that all landscaping is alive and to the original plan.

Some municipalities are piloting allowing surety bonds instead of cash deposits. Instead of a builder having to give cash to a municipality for a deposit, they would take out an "insurance plan" that would be paid out to a municipality if a builder didn't meet their obligations. Surety bonds could help lower the cost of housing project construction. Council passed a motion asking that we consider exploring a surety bond program as part of our upcoming strategic planning.

BC Builds Affordable Rental Mixed-Use Project at 49th and 200th

Last night, Langley City Council gave first and second reading to three bylaws, which, if approved, would allow the construction of a BC Builds housing project between 49th Avenue and 50th Avenue on the west side of 200th Street.

Rendering of the proposed project at 19991 49 Avenue, 19990 50 Avenue, and 4951-4975 & 4991 200 Street. Select the image to enlarge.

BC Builds is a provincial government program that provides grants and low-interest loans to build rental housing for people who make middle-income levels, such as teachers, nurses, tradespeople, and small business owners. The specific household income brackets for renting in a BC Builds project are:

• $85,870 - $136,210 for a studio or one-bedroom
• $138,770 - $201,030 for a two-bedroom or large

BC Builds projects must have at least 20% of their unit available at 20% below market rents.

To make these projects viable, BC Builds partners must contribute free or low-cost land. The Church of the Nazarene is leading this project and is contributing land. Langley City is also contributing land for the project. Even though the Church is leading the project, there are no and cannot be any religious requirements/preferences/obligations to rent in the building.

The project, if approved, would have:

• 302 apartments (60 of these units will have below-market rents)
• A secular childcare facility (with approximately 49 infant/toddler/preschool spaces and approximately 24 after-school spaces. No preference is given to people who rent in the building or church members.)
• A new church and community hall
• A greenway plaza and connection to a future trail to be extended to Conder Park
• 6,458 sq. ft. of commercial space for shops or services

Langley City's Official Community Plan must be amended for this project to move forward. While the Official Community Plan envisions a mixed-use project like this proposal around 49th Avenue and 200th Street, the height limit was 3 stories, which needs to be increased to 6 stories. 6-stories height is proposed only to be allowed when "20% of the total unit count being rented at a minimum of 20% below market rent rates, and secured by Housing Agreement for the life of these buildings" and only a project touches 49th Avenue and 200th Street on the northwest corner.

The next step will be a public hearing at 7 pm on April 7th at Langley City Council Chamber. This public hearing is when people can formally provide written or verbal feedback on this proposal. You can find out more information on Langley City's website.

I will post more information about the project's specifics after the public hearing.

Langley City Film Festival - Film Submissions Open

Langley City will host its 2nd Film Festival on October 18th and 19th. This year's themes are "The Emotion of Sound" and "The Natural Environment."

This short film festival has youth and general filmmaker categories. Young filmmakers can submit films between 30 seconds and 5 minutes, while general short films can be between 2 minutes and 20 minutes. Prizes range from $500 to $1,000. Filmmakers must reside in BC.

You must have created any submitted film between May 1st, 2023, and May 1st, 2025.

The deadline to submit a film is May 1st.

For more information, including how to submit your film, please visit Langley City's website or events@langleycity.ca.

The following trailer is from the 2023 festival.