Creating more local jobs is desirable as a way to address traffic issues, environmental impacts, quality of life, and diversification of the tax assessment and employment base. Importantly, the OCP emphasizes the development of economic strategies that fit within the community context, as well as Maple Ridge’s priorities and values.
The City's Official Community Plan (OCP) (Chapter 6) identifies key issues for employment in Maple Ridge and addresses these issues through policies.
Key issues identified in the OCP include:
- Continuing to increase the number of local jobs through city strategies and in partnership with regional and provincial agencies;
- Enhancing investment and business opportunities within the community.
Creating more local jobs is desirable as a way to address traffic issues, environmental impacts, quality of life, and diversification of the tax assessment and employment base. Importantly, the OCP emphasizes the development of economic strategies that fit within the community context, as well as Maple Ridge's priorities and values.
Ongoing Projects
Employment Lands Redesignation
One of the short term outcomes of the Commercial & Industrial Strategy was that the City will need upwards of 69-93 hectares (170-230 acres) of additional industrial lands by 2040. The Strategy examined lands within the City and a number of areas that could potentially accommodate employment-based land uses have been identified.
Setting aside land now in order to accommodate future employment lands is one way to support the creation of more local job opportunities for Maple Ridge residents. Recognizing the importance of local job creation, Council directed staff to investigate a number of sites to assess their suitability for future employment-generating land uses.
Staff have conducted several high-level land use assessments to explore the potential for future employment uses through the redesignation of land in strategic areas of the city. As a land use designation characterizes what land uses could be supported in the future, the redesignation of land would not change the currently permitted uses or existing zoning.
In 2017, two areas were brought forward for Council consideration based on their proximity and potential to expand existing areas of employment in the City:
- Area 1: 256th Street Lands
- Area 2: Lougheed Lands
In early 2017, a public consultation process was completed to discuss the employment land redesignation opportunities with the community. It included four focus group sessions with local land owners and area residents, a city-wide public open house on February 6, 2017 as well as an online survey.
The outcome of the open house and questionnaire were presented at Council Workshop on May 2, 2017 (available in the video archives), where Council directed staff to move forward with amending Official Community Plan Amending Bylaw for Area 1: 256th Street Lands and preparing Official Community Plan Amending Bylaw for Area 2: Lougheed Lands.
- May 2, 2017 Staff Report (report only)
- May 2, 2017 Staff Report (with attachments)
- May 2, 2017 Presentation
Staff submitted two draft OCP Amending Bylaws for Council consideration at the June 27, 2017 Council meeting (available in the video archives).
- Staff Report
- Bylaw No. 7299-2016 (Area 1: 256 Street Lands) introduces an Industrial Reserve designation for the lands around the existing 256th Street Industrial Area as well as a number of other housekeeping amendments. This Bylaw received second reading at the June 27, 2017 Council Meeting.
- Bylaw No. 7335-2017 (Area 2: Lougheed Lands) proposes Industrial (Business Park category), Commercial and Rural Residential land use designations. This Bylaw received first and second reading at the June 27, 2017 Council Meeting.
Both Bylaws were forwarded to the July 18th Public Hearing. The Public Hearing is the opportunity for anyone who feels affected by a particular Bylaw to be heard before Council on matters contained in the Bylaw. The July 18, 2017 presentation and public comments are available on a recording in the video archives.
Following the Public Hearing, both Bylaws were considered by Council at the next Regular Council Meeting, which was held on July 25th, 2017. The recording of the Council Meeting is available in the video archives. On July 25th, 2017 both OCP Amending Bylaw No. 7299-2016 and No. 7335-2017 received third reading.
Both OCP Amending Bylaw No. 7299-2016 and No. 7335-2017 were considered for final reading and adopted at the September 12, 2017 Regular Council Meeting. The recording of the Council Meeting is available in the video archives. The City of Maple Ridge's online mapping software now reflects the changes made to the OCP land use designations.
Documents:
December 5, 2016 256 Street Report
October 17, 2016 Industrial Viability Report
September 19, 2016 Suburban Residential Report
What are the Yennadon Lands?
The Yennadon Lands are comprised of 13 properties. They range in size from 0.5 ha (1.5 acres) to 4 ha (10 acres). The total land area is 25.4 hectares (63 acres) . The City is now beginning a planning process that will look at how the Yennadon Lands could be redesignated. To view a map of the area, click here.
Why are we doing this?
One of the short term outcomes of the Commercial & Industrial Strategy section above was that the City will need upwards of 69-93 hectares (170 – 230 acres) of additional employment lands by 2040. The redesignation of the Yennadon Lands could facilitate the creation of a unique opportunity where the area could eventually serve the needs of the technology sector, light manufacturing companies, and professional offices; all of which offer a high employment density. In order to facilitate employment uses on the Yennadon Lands, an amendment to the Official Community Plan (OCP) would be required.
Work To-date
On April 16, 2019 staff provided Council with a general update on an Employment Lands Process underway in the City of Maple Ridge, which included a focus on the suitability of the Yennadon Lands for future employment purposes. At that meeting, the Yennadon Lands were referred back to staff to meet with the landowners to assess their interest for the lands.
A Landowners Workshop was held at Yennadon Elementary on June 6, 2019 from 6 – 8pm. Twelve letters were sent out to the landowners, representing all 13 properties, inviting them to attend. At the Workshop, 18 people attended representing 11 of the properties.
On June 18, 2019, staff provided a verbal update to Council on the outcomes of the June 6, 2019 Workshop with Yennadon Landowners, namely that there were strong levels of support for an employment future.
At the June 18, 2019 Council meeting, Council directed staff to undertake an employment land use redesignation process and consultation strategy for the Yennadon Lands. As of the June 18, 2019 Council meeting, Council directed that any new applications, or those already in-stream that have not reached third reading, be deferred until any potential OCP amendments are presented at Public Hearing and given third reading, with the exception of applications that propose future employment land uses.
Staff brought an Information Report to Council on March 31st, 2020 as under Council's earlier direction, a public process was anticipated to begin in the spring of 2020. The recording of the Council Meeting is available here.
Under direction from Public Health Officials, City staff were unable to begin the public process at that time. Recognizing the timeliness of the Yennadon Lands Redesignation Process to the community, Council directed staff to bring forward preliminary concepts for Council consideration prior to proceeding with the public consultation process.
On July 14, 2020, staff in collaboration with a consultant presented three preliminary land use concepts for Council to review at the regularly scheduled Council Workshop meeting. The concepts are available in the staff report (Item 4.1) and the Council meeting is available to livestream here. At that meeting, Council expressed interest in Concept #2 of the Staff Report and directed staff to bring that concept to the public as part of the public consultation process anticipated for Fall 2020. It was also noted that the public consultation summary report should be accompanied by the Official Community Plan Amending Bylaw when it is brought back before Council.
On Wednesday, October 7, 2020, the City hosted a virtual Yennadon Lands Public Open House from 6:30 – 8:30pm online via Zoom. At the Open House three preliminary land use concepts were presented. If you were unable to attend the Open House, or would like to review the material presented, a copy of the presentation is available here.
The Yennadon Lands Open House Survey was available from October 8th until October 29th. Input through this Open House and Community Survey will be used to help inform City Council's consideration of the preliminary concept plans.
The consultation outcomes available here (item 4.1) were presented to Council at the December 8th, 2020 Council Workshop meeting. The meeting was recorded and can be viewed here. At this meeting, Council endorsed Concept #2 – Neighbourhood Innovations Village and directed staff to prepare an Official Community Plan Amending Bylaw to designate the Yennadon Lands for “Employment” and to create accompanying policies and design guidelines.
At the May 4, 2021 Committee of the Whole Council Meeting, staff presented OCP Amending Bylaws (No. 7734-2021 and No. 7735-2021) to integrate the Yennadon Lands Concept Plan (endorsed on December 8, 2020) into the Official Community Plan. The OCP Amending Bylaws were forwarded to the May 11, 2021 Regular Council Meeting, where Council granted First Reading to the bylaws.
Staff presented OCP Amending Bylaws (No. 7734-2021 and No. 7735-2021) to integrate the Yennadon Lands Concept Plan (endorsed on December 8, 2020) into the Official Community Plan at the May 4, 2021 Committee of the Whole Council Meeting. The OCP Amending Bylaws were forwarded to the May 11, 2021 Regular Council Meeting, where Council granted First Reading to the bylaws. The full staff report and OCP Amending Bylaws are available here (Item 1101). The Council Meeting Minutes are available here. The meetings are recorded and available for viewing here.
In respect of Section 475 of the Local Government Act, staff submitted referrals to the following agencies regarding the proposed re-designation of the Yennadon Lands: Metro Vancouver, School District No. 42, local First Nations, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, as well as the Agricultural Land Commission. Following receipt of referral agency responses, staff will prepare a Second Reading report for Council consideration.
Follwing receipts of the referral responses, Staff presented the Second Reading Report and three Official Community Plan Amending Bylaws at the April 5, 2022 Committee of the Whole Council Meeting. Committee of the Whole is the initial venue for review of issues. No voting takes place on the bylaws. A decision is made to send the item to Council for debate and vote or to send an item back to staff for more information. Council moved the item for debate and consideration of Second Reading at the April 12, 2022 Regular Council Meeting (7pm).
Council granted Second Reading of the bylaws at the April 12, 2022 Regular Council Meeting. The full staff report and OCP Amending Bylaws are available here (Item 1111). The Council Meeting Minutes are available here. The meetings are recorded and available for viewing here.
The three Yennadon Lands OCP bylaws were presented at the May 17, 2022 Public Hearing meeting. The Public Hearing agenda is available here and the three OCP bylaws are the first item on the agenda. The meetings are recorded and available for viewing at here.
The three OCP bylaws were considered for Third Reading at the May 24, 2022 Regular Council Meeting. At that meeting, Council granted Third Reading to the three bylaws. The Council Meeting Minutes are available here. The meetings are recorded and available for viewing at here.
In the fall of 2022, application 2022-170-AL to exclude 23154 128 Ave from the Agricultural Land Reserve was presented to Council at the October 18, 2022 Committee of the Whole Council Meeting. The Committee of the Whole Report is available here.
At the October 25, 2022 Regular Council Meeting, Council forwarded application 2022-170-AL to Public Hearing. The application was presented at the November 22, 2022 Public Hearing and at the November 29, 2022 Regular Council Meeting, Council forwarded the application to the Agricultural Land Commission for their consideration. The November 29, 2022 meeting package is available here (see item 12.1): For other reports and agendas, please visit our Council Meetings & Documents page.
Latest Update
Staff are introducing the proposed M-7 Employment Park Zone, to be used in the Yennadon Lands, at the February 14, 2023 Council Workshop. The intent behind the M-7 Zone is to align with the Yennadon Lands Employment Park policies (currently at Third Reading), which are very similar to an existing employment park zone, but have been tailored to take into account the existing residential context specific to the Yennadon Lands. The report (available through the City's new Agenda Portal here) outlines the proposed parameters of the Zone for Council consideration and comment.
The February 14, 2023 Council Workshop agenda can be found here. The purpose of the Council Workshop is to review and discuss policies and other items of interest to Council. Although resolutions may be passed at this meeting, the intent is to make a decision to send an item to Council for debate and vote or refer the item back to staff for more information or clarification. The meeting was live streamed and recorded by the City of Maple Ridge, and is available for viewing on Youtube.
Looking for More Information?
Please feel free to contact the Planning Department by email or phone at 604-467-7341 with questions or comments on the Yennadon Lands process. Check back regularly for more information about the Yennadon Lands process.
Updates on the Yennadon Lands will be provided online as well as via e-mail. Should you wish to be included on the Employment Land Redesignation E-Mail List, please let staff know by sending an email to the Planning Department at employmentlands@mapleridge.ca.
Document Links
Commercial & Industrial Strategy (2014)
Commercial & Industrial Implementation Matrix (2015)
Employment Land Use Suitability Assessment: Yennadon Lands (Staff Report – April 16, 2019)
Employment Lands: Yennadon Landowners Workshop Report Back (June 18, 2019)
Employment Lands: Update on Yennadon Lands process (Staff Report – March 31, 2020)
Employment Lands: Preliminary Concepts for the Yennadon Lands (Staff Report - July 14, 2020)
First Reading Report-Employment Lands: Re-designation of the Yennadon Lands to Industrial (Employment Park Category) Official Community Plan Amending Bylaw No. 7734-2021 (Policy); and Official Community Plan Amending Bylaw No. 7735-2021 (Land Use Designation) First Reading (Staff Report – May 4, 2021 Committee of the Whole; May 11, 2021 Regular Council Meeting)
Second Reading -Employment Lands: Re-designation of the Yennadon Lands to Industrial (Employment Park Category) Official Community Plan Amending Bylaw No. 7734-2021 (Policy); and Official Community Plan Amending Bylaw No. 7735-2021 (Land Use Designation) Staff Report – April 12, 2022 Regular Council Meeting; Second Reading:
- April 5, 2022, Committee of the Whole Agenda
- April 5, 2022, Committee of the Whole Viewing Link
- April 12, 2022, Council Meeting Viewing Link
Public Hearing- Employment Lands: Re-designation of the Yennadon Lands to Industrial (Employment Park Category) Official Community Plan Amending Bylaw No. 7734-2021 (Policy); and Official Community Plan Amending Bylaw No. 7735-2021 (Land Use Designation)
ALC Application- Application 2022-170-AL to exclude 23154 128 Ave from the Agricultural Land Reserve.
- Committee of the Whole - October 18, 2022
- Regular Council Meeting- October 25, 2022
- Public Hearing - November 22, 2022
- Regular Council Meeting - November 29, 2022 (see item 12.1)
Introducing the M-7 Employment Park Zone
Have Questions?
If you have questions, please contact the Planning Department:
Email: planning@mapleridge.ca
Phone: 604-467-7341
Fax: 604-466-4327
Visit City Hall at: 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC V2X 6A9