Maple Ridge, B.C., June 30, 2025 – The Bring to Market Industrial Land Study, a collaborative effort between the City of Maple Ridge, Metro Vancouver, and Kwantlen (qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓) First Nation, identifies strategies to attract industrial investment, businesses, and jobs to approximately 119 hectares of underutilized industrial land in Albion along the Fraser River between 232 and 261 Streets, south of Lougheed Highway.
The study evaluates the planning, servicing, economic, and market conditions of the Albion area along the Fraser River to guide new industrial investment and development. It recommends specific actions to address barriers and bring more industrial lands to market.
“Our region faces a well-known shortage of industrial land, and this study provides a clearer path to unlocking the potential of this area,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy. “Through collaboration with Metro Vancouver and qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ First Nation, we’re laying the foundation for long-term economic growth, a more connected region, and building a future-ready city. This means more local jobs, expanded services, and a higher quality of life for Maple Ridge residents.”
The study outlines how the area can accommodate new and additional industrial uses in the short term, while progressing towards redevelopment on fully serviced sites over time. This initiative also contributes to regional efforts to address the critical shortage of industrial land across Metro Vancouver.
“Industrial lands help drive our region’s economy because they are home to many of the services and activities needed by a growing region, provide job opportunities, and link us to global trade,” said Metro Vancouver Board Chair Mike Hurley. “Metro Vancouver has an important role in protecting the region’s supply of industrial land and promoting its efficient use. Studies like this help advance practical and innovative forms of industrial planning and development throughout the region and promote the protection and best use of valuable industrial lands.”
The 335-hectare study area offers a broad potential industrial land strategically located on the Fraser River waterfront. It could accommodate diverse uses ranging from the marine industry to film production, with existing multi-modal transportation access including highway, rail, and river frontage.
The study identifies development challenges, including a lack of sewer and water infrastructure, limited transit access, floodplain, and soil constraints, and makes several recommendations to overcome these obstacles and attract industrial businesses and uses to the area. Key recommendations include:
Extending municipal water and sanitary sewer services into the area.
Improving vehicle access to Lougheed Highway and exploring transit service upgrades.
Aligning the land use designations in the City’s Official Community Plan and Metro Vancouver’s Regional Growth Strategy.
Developing ‘dry industrial’ zoning (e.g., for sites without sewer or water servicing) and interim land use policies to support short-term investments.
Pursuing regional and senior government funding to support infrastructure costs.
Coordinating with partners, including CPKC (rail), the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, TransLink, and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
Funding from other orders of government, creating cost-sharing models to fund infrastructure and support development, and coordinating with partners will be key to achieving success.
Following receipt by the City of Maple Ridge Council and the Metro Vancouver Regional District Board, the City will work with landowners, businesses, and key partners to advance the study’s recommendations and support future planning and investment decisions across the study area.
The study, undertaken between mid-2024 and early 2025, was jointly funded by the City of Maple Ridge and Metro Vancouver, with participation from qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ First Nation.
Bringing industrial lands to market supports Council’s 2023–2026 Strategic Plan by advancing economic development, diversifying the tax base, and creating local jobs. This work also complements other initiatives by the City of Maple Ridge to expand the community’s industrial and economic capacity.
To review the full study and for updates, visit MapleRidge.ca/IndustrialLands.
Media Contact
Pardeep Purewal, Senior Manager Corporate Communications and Public Engagement
T 604 466 4319 C 778 955 4249 E media@MapleRidge.ca