Maple Ridge, B.C., Sept. 23, 2026 – The City of Maple Ridge is officially launching Velocity Enhanced Development Approvals, a first-of-its-kind program in B.C. that is designed to help progress development projects that advance City priorities, including affordable and transit-oriented housing, local jobs, business investment, and vibrant neighbourhoods.
The program provides eligible applicants with a dedicated City contact and an integrated approvals team to help navigate complex planning processes, such as rezoning, development permits, subdivisions, and variances. This strategic oversight helps clarify requirements early, identify issues sooner, improve coordination across City departments, and keep applications moving. It is one example of how the City is taking a bold and innovative approach to reduce red tape and help ensure new developments that advance the City’s priority objectives also meet community needs.
“Maple Ridge is one of the fastest-growing communities in British Columbia, and we need housing, local jobs, and services to keep pace,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy. “Velocity is another program in a suite of initiatives designed to modernize our approval processes, reduce red tape and make Maple Ridge more competitive for investment. By bringing the right people together early, we can move projects that deliver real community benefits forward more efficiently, without lowering the standards or community expectations residents count on.”
While participating projects will benefit from enhanced support, developers will be expected to adhere to the City’s regulatory requirements and technical, environmental, and safety standards. The program does not replace required project reviews, remove oversight from City Council, or guarantee that a project will be approved.
Velocity builds on a one-year pilot that launched in 2025 and established eligibility, governance, and performance measures. The full rollout of the program will focus on accepting new projects, supporting their progress through the development process, and tracking results to improve service over time. The program is funded through a portion of the $16.6 million the City received from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund, and there is currently no fee to participate.
How Velocity Works
Developers aren’t required to apply separately for Velocity as development applications are screened for eligibility during the regular intake process for planning applications. Projects are considered based on their strategic significance, complexity and coordination requirements, value-add opportunities, applicant readiness, and available capacity. The City will contact applicants when their projects may be a fit.
Qualifying projects must demonstrate high value to the community, including developments that advance the City’s strategic growth priorities, generate employment and investment, fill gaps in the City’s land use, and/or contribute to the community’s liveability and vibrancy.
Eligible projects often include:
- Affordable or below-market housing
- High-density residential development in priority growth areas
- Significant commercial and industrial development supporting jobs, investment, and liveability
- Mixed-use development combining residential and commercial uses
Key program benefits include:
- A dedicated Development Concierge on staff providing strategic coordination
- A project-specific approvals strategy identifying key considerations, responsibilities, decision points and sequencing
- An integrated approvals staff team bringing together relevant City departments and technical disciplines
- Collaborative and coordinated support for complex planning approvals like zoning amendments, development permits, subdivision approvals, and variance approvals
- Structured issue resolution and escalation where required
- Greater predictability and accountability throughout the approvals process
Both the City and participating Velocity applicants sign a Program Charter during intake, fostering a collaborative model that establishes clear expectations around communication, transparency, timely information, mutual accountability, and active participation in resolving issues.
For more information on the Velocity program, visit MapleRidge.ca/Velocity.
Advancing Provincial Housing Targets
Velocity complements other ongoing efforts to streamline and modernize the City’s planning and permitting processes, including the Certified Professional Program, and the Development Services Optimization program’s online permit application portal — real tools that deliver real results to help accelerate building and construction.
Velocity will play a key role in supporting the City’s commitment to meeting the Province of B.C.’s Housing Target Order of 3,954 new homes by June 2029. As a designated Housing Target Community under provincial legislation, Maple Ridge is prioritizing projects that deliver affordable, below-market, and new and diverse forms of housing.
The City’s approach focuses on areas that a local government can directly influence, including land use, zoning, development processes, infrastructure planning, customer service and partnerships. While the challenges of market conditions, construction costs, interest rates and senior government funding all affect how quickly new homes are built, Maple Ridge is continuing to create the conditions for housing, investment and community services to move forward.
“Meeting the Province’s housing targets means we need to work even more strategically and collaboratively,” said James Stiver, Director of Planning and Building. “Velocity is a new and innovative way to help us support projects that deliver on meaningful community benefits by navigating the process more efficiently, without lowering standards or bypassing public and Council processes.”
This work aligns with the City’s Housing Action Plan and supports the delivery of more housing options to meet the needs of current and future residents. To learn more visit MapleRidge.ca/HousingAction
For additional information, contact Demian Rueter, Development Concierge, DRueter@MapleRidge.ca or 672-275-1291
- 30 -
Media contact:
Pardeep Purewal, Senior Manager Corporate Communications and Public Engagement
T 604 466 4319 C 778 955 4249
E Media@MapleRidge.ca