The Albion Area Plan strives to balance new residential development, the protection of environmentally sensitive areas, and the provision of a range of housing styles to meet diverse housing needs.
To read the full plan, see Albion Area Plan Section 10.2 of the Official Community Plan.
Engagement Opportunities
North East Albion Land Use and Servicing Concept Planning Process
The City of Maple Ridge has concluded the planning process for the North East Albion Area Plan. The North East Albion Plan was integrated into the Albion Area Plan on September 27, 2022.
On June 11, 2024 an update was provided to the Mayor and Council on the public engagement process. Click here to read the report.
On October 24, 2023, Council endorsed a targeted land use and servicing review of the southern portion of the North East Albion Area to refresh the plan to reflect current on-going market conditions related to the need to densify single family areas as well as Council aspirations for this area. The area under review is generally considered to be the lands south of 110 Avenue within the North East Albion Area.
Public Consultation:
As a part of the targeted review process, the City hosted an Open House to gather feedback about the potential land use changes at the Albion Community Center between 5:30 – 7:30pm on Thursday February 22, 2024.
If you would like a copy of the information available at the open house, please click here to view the open house presentation boards.
Survey: A community survey is available until March 7, 2024. The feedback will be included in a future outcomes and recommendation report to Council discussing potential land use changes.
Complete the survey here.
If you have any questions about the process or event, please contact northeastalbion@mapleridge.ca.
On June 11, 2024 an update was provided to the Mayor and Council on the public engagement process. Click here to read the report.
On September 27, 2022, Council adopted the North East Albion Land Use Plan into the Albion Area Plan, of the City's Official Community Plan. However, since the creation of the North East Albion Plan, a number of fundamental shifts have occurred. In addition to the challenges and opportunities associated with on-going global events, the economic landscape within BC and Canada has shifted – experienced primarily through changing market interest rates and evolving preference demands – contributing to the housing shortage in BC.
Recognizing the evolving landscape, a targeted land use and servicing review of the southern portion of the North East Albion Area was endorsed by Council on October 24, 2023. A copy of the report is available here.
The City of Maple Ridge has concluded the planning process for the North East Albion Area Plan. The North East Albion Plan was integrated into the Albion Area Plan on September 27, 2022.
Background
The North East Albion Area planning process explored land use and servicing options for the area, noting that the Albion Area Plan had always envisioned that further study of the area was needed at the time when redevelopment begins to occur in this area.
In May 2018, Council received a development application (2018-217-RZ) from Epic Homes to rezone four properties located in the northeast section of the Albion Area Plan (North East Albion Area). The North East Albion Area has been identified in policy as an area requiring future land use and servicing assessments. To address these issues, Council endorsed a planning process in January 2019, to be undertaken collaboratively with the applicant, to prepare a Land Use and Servicing Concept Plan for North East Albion.
North East Albion Land Use and Servicing Concept Plan
On Tuesday, October 1 2019, Council endorsed the North East Albion Land Use and Servicing Concept Plan. The full staff report is available here (Item 4.3) and the meeting was recorded and available here. As staff moved through the OCP Amendment process, the endorsed North East Albion Neighbourhood Concept Plan was used to guide the preparation and evaluation of specific development proposals in the North East Albion area. Click image of the concept plan to enlarge.
Past Public Engagement Opportunities
The North East Albion Emerging Ideas Open House was held at Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary School from 5:30 - 8:30pm on May 16, 2019. A copy of the Information Boards is available here.
A community survey was available from May 16 till June 3, 2019. The feedback, and the information gathered through the open house and community survey informed the North East Albion Land Use and Servicing Concept Planning Process.
On Monday June 24, 2019 the North East Albion Open House was held at Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary from 5:30 – 8:30pm to present a Draft North East Albion Neighbourhood Concept Plan. A copy of the of the materials from the Open House can be found here: Presentation Boards and Draft Neighbourhood Concept Plan. A community survey was available from June 24 till July 12, 2019. Your continued input through this Open House and Community Survey will help inform City Council's consideration of the draft North East Albion Neighbourhood Concept Plan.
First Reading
Staff presented an OCP Amending Bylaw (No. 7698-2021) to integrate the North East Albion Concept Plan (endorsed on October 1, 2019) into the Albion Area Plan to Council at the January 19th, 2021 Committee of the Whole Council Meeting. The OCP Amending Bylaw was forwarded to the January 26th, 2021 Regular Council Meeting, where Council granted First Reading to the bylaw.
The full staff report and OCP Amending Bylaw No. 7698-2021 is available here (Item 1102), with the Council Meeting Minutes available here. The meetings are recorded and available for viewing at here.
When OCP Amending Bylaw No. 7698-2021 received First Reading, it went through a referral process that is internal to the City (by referring to various other departments) and also external to government bodies that are outside of the City's jurisdiction, but impacted by the proposed land use changes. As the referral process neared completion, it was time to present what was learned through this referral process to the community.
Virtual Public Process
From June 17 through to July 1st, the information package and comment form were available. Thank you for providing your feedback! Please click here to view the information package.
The information package summarizes what was learned through the referral process and outlines where policy changes may be required, given what was heard. The information gathered through the virtual public engagement process was presented in the Second Reading Report to Council.
Second Reading
Staff presented the Second Reading Report and Official Community Plan Amending Bylaws at the July 19, 2022 Committee of the Whole Council Meeting (11am, Virtual Online Meeting including Council Chambers). Committee of the Whole is the initial venue for review of issues. A decision was 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 forward for debate, and granted it for Second Reading at the July 26, 2022 Regular Council Meeting (7pm). The full staff report and OCP Amending Bylaws are available here (Item 1104). The Council Meeting Minutes are available here. The meeting can also be viewed here.
Public Hearing
The OCP Amending Bylaws were sent to the September 20, 2022 Public Hearing. The meeting can be viewed here.
Third Reading & Final Adoption
The OCP Amending Bylaws received third and final reading on September 27, 2022. The OCP Amending Bylaws are available here and the meeting can be viewed here.
Please feel free to contact the Planning Department by email at northeastalbion@mapleridge.ca or phone at 604-467-7343 with questions or comments on the North East Albion Land Use and Servicing Concept Planning Process.
Albion Flats Area Plan
The Albion Flats have been the subject of various concept planning efforts over the years. In 2018, Council re-affirmed a work plan to explore a land use area planning process for the lands south-east of Jim Robson Way. The goal of the Albion Flats Planning Process is for an Area Plan to be adopted by Council. The Albion Flats Planning Process is a priority project identified in City Council's Strategic Plan 2019-2022.
An area plan is a Council adopted Bylaw that provides a greater level of detail regarding land use, density, form, character, and phasing for a specific area, than is typically found in an Official Community Plan. An area plan can apply to a group of neighbourhoods, or a single neighbourhood, and is suitable for newly developing, existing or historic neighbourhoods. Neighbourhoods can be residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, or agricultural, or of any combination. The general content of an area plan is identified in the Official Community Plan policies. However each area plan is unique, as the content is often dependent upon the issues, characteristics and objectives defined by stakeholders through consultation.
On October 5, 2015, Council endorsed a renewed planning process to complete a revised land use concept plan and Albion Flats Area Plan Bylaw. It was proposed to revisit the 2010 charrette outcomes and community stakeholder input as the basis for identifying preferred land uses and moving forward to complete an Area Plan Bylaw. The Albion Flats Area Planning process was proposed to have four phases. A description of each phase is outlined below.
On November 12, 2019, Council endorsed a concept plan for the Albion Flats that includes flexible opportunities for residential units above ground floor commercial, and a mixed-use commercial node located close to 240 Street to provide better proximity to the existing Albion neighbourhood. The City is currently in Phase 3 of the planning process.
Phase one included a review of previous community and stakeholder input, planning work, and an assessment of the current situation. A key step in this phase was a workshop with Council that discussed the components of the 2010 charrette options.
Key Council Reports
- History and Options Update - Council report dated March 16, 2015
- Area Planning and Alternative Options for Land Use - Council report dated October 5, 2015
- Land Use Planning Workshop - Council report dated February 22, 2016
Phase two included works to re-draft an updated land use concept plan for Albion Flats. A general concept plan, overview, and explanation of land use designations was updated and feedback from the public and stakeholders was received. Feedback from this review was used to refine and revise the draft plan prior to seeking Council endorsement. A key step in this phase was Council's endorsement of a concept plan.
Key Council Reports
- Albion Flats Area Planning Process Background and Next Steps – Council report dated January 22, 2019
- Albion Flats Concept Plan – Council report dated November 12, 2019
Following Council's endorsement of the Albion Flats Concept Plan, Council directed that the plan be forwarded to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) in advance of a meeting with the ALC. As of June 2020, the ALC has directed their staff to work with City staff to refine and prioritize drainage options for the area. Figuring out drainage options for the area is a fundamental first step that must be satisfied prior to advancing discussions. City staff are meeting with ALC staff to discuss the drainage options as well as other requirements.
The majority of the land in the Albion Flats is within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). If the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) supports the exclusion of the lands, then an Area Plan Bylaw process will begin. An Area Plan Bylaw process will be outlined in the staff report that will seek Council's endorsement of the concept plan, including any additional consultation events and the process for a Regional Growth Strategy amendment.
Storm and Sanitary Offsite Servicing Requirements
Existing Traffic Conditions and Potential Impacts
Socio-Economic Trends & Implications
Analysis of Land Use Demands & Implications
ALC Comments on the 2011 Draft Concept Plan
Area Planning and Alternative Options for Land Use
History and Options Update 2015
Albion Flats Area Planning Process Background and Next Steps 2018
Community Amenity Program
The Community Amenity Program is intended to meet the needs of the community and respond to changes in housing form and demand over time by enabling an additional means of providing neighbourhood amenities. The Albion Area Plan Community Amenity Program provides the opportunity for a Density Bonus within a number of zones identified within the Albion Zoning Matrix, see Section 10.2.4. Within these zones, 'bonus' density may be achieved through an Amenity Contribution toward community amenities that will be located within the boundaries of the Area Plan.
A public open house was held on March 13, 2013 for the Albion Area Plan Review and to introduce the Amenity Zoning Contribution pilot study in the Albion area. If you were unable to attend, you may still view the presentation boards and the slides from the Amenity Zoning Presentation. A questionnaire was distributed at the open house and is now closed. The results were presented to Council on June 10, 2013 and the report is below. On July 8, 2013 a staff report was presented at Committee of the Whole for the bylaws in relation to amenity zoning.
Analysis and Options Prepared by City Spaces
Council Workshop Amenity Zoning and Albion Area Plan report dated February 4, 2013
Council Workshop Amenity Zoning report dated May 14, 2012
Council Workshop Amenity Zoning report dated November 26, 2012
Council Workshop Report dated March 19, 2012
Open House Summary Report (presented at Council Workshop June 18, 2012)
Presentation Boards from May 30, 2012 Open House
Report to Council Workshop June 10, 2013 on Amenity Zoning and Area Plan Review
Report to Council Workshop June 10, 2013 on Outcomes of Public Consultation Process
Questions?
If you have questions about the Albion Area Plan, please contact the Planning Department.
