Town Centre Area Plan Update (September 2025)
Staff are in the process of amending the OCP to update the Town Centre Area Plan. At the September 9, 2025, Committee of the Whole, staff presented the Town Centre Area Plan Update for Council consideration of First Reading, with Council then giving First Reading at the September 16, 2025 Regular Council meeting. The proposed changes aim to reflect recent provincial housing legislation while consolidating and updating land uses and policies. Updates include expanding growth around transit hubs. For more information, please see the September 9, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting agenda package and video.
Preparing for Growth
The Town Centre Area Plan was first adopted in November 2008 and envisioned increased density, mixed land uses, and enhanced green spaces to foster a pedestrian-friendly environment in the City’s downtown core. At the time of adoption, the area was home to over 8,000 residents. Since then, the population has nearly doubled, reaching approximately 14,216 residents and 6,889 households by 2024 (2024 Esri Canada). Fundamental shifts in the housing market and provincial legislative changes have taken place since the plan’s inception. Numerous major development applications have also been approved, with many more in process and anticipated.
At the June 4, 2024, Committee of the Whole Meeting, Council considered and introduced the Maple Ridge Transit-Oriented Area Designation Bylaw No. 8001-2024 to designate three areas as ‘Transit-Oriented Areas’ (TOAs) as required by Provincial regulation. At its meeting on June 25, 2024, Council adopted the City’s Transit-Oriented Area Designation Bylaw, and two of the three identified TOAs are part of the TCAP:
- Haney Transit Exchange, and
- Port Haney West Coast Express Station.
Concepts
Emphasizing that the downtown has a high capacity for accommodating residential growth, the Town Centre Area Plan was based on the background work of the Town Centre Concept Plan. This document was produced with extensive community consultation and collaboration with outside agencies that participated in Smart Growth on the Ground. Maple Ridge was the first British Columbia community to take part in this collaboration, which strives for future development to provide options for the car, to work in harmony with nature, resulting in buildings that are "greener and smarter," housing that serves many needs, jobs that are close to home, and an attractive, vibrant town core.
Why are we doing this?
Maple Ridge Council has recognized this growth and change and wants to ensure that the evolution of the Town Centre is positive and leads to greater vibrancy within this core part of the Community.
Work To Date
- On February 23, 2021, an outcomes report of the public engagement was presented at Council Workshop. Ultimately, the Town Centre Visioning engagement process re-affirmed the direction of the Town Centre Area Plan continues to resonate with Maple Ridge residents. The report also offered possible next steps.
- Currently, the land use policies specific to the Port Haney area are being reviewed. The Port Haney area is a precinct within the Town Centre Area Plan (TCAP) boundary and is subject to the TCAP's land use policies. At the February 8, 2022, Council Workshop, Council directed staff to take a closer look at the TCAP policies applicable to the Port Haney area as the area is subject to lower density policies than other areas in the Town Centre. To read the February 8, 2022 report, click here. The Port Haney Land Use Policy Review process will examine current permitted uses and explore an increase in maximum building height, while maintaining and enhancing desirable features for the area. Staff collected feedback from residents throughout the spring and summer of 2022.
Want to stay in touch?
Updates on the Town Centre Area Visioning Process will be provided online as well as via email. If you wish to be included on the Email List, please send us an email at planning@mapleridge.ca.
Check back regularly for information about the Town Centre Area Visioning Process.
