Hello Strong Towns Langley members! Here is a summary of the key outcomes from the Township of Langley Council Meeting on November 3, 2025, focusing on items relevant to our work in building financially resilient and people-centred communities. The meeting saw significant changes to major infrastructure plans and lively debate on accessibility and public safety. **Major Planning and Housing Items Deferred or Altered** The highly anticipated **2025 Official Community Plan Update (F.1)** did not proceed; it was deferred to the November 17 meeting during the agenda adoption. This came after a motion by Councillor Martens to move a related item from the closed session to the open agenda was defeated. Council significantly altered the proposal for **Pre-zoning Options Along the 200 Street Corridor (E.3)**. Instead of a broad approach, a new motion was passed directing staff to advance pre-zoning applications *without density benefit provisions* for specific sites, including undeveloped gateway lands and infill opportunities up to 12 storeys near the Carvolth Exchange and Langley Events Centre. This targeted approach, which removes density bonusing from the equation, carried with Councillor Richter opposed. In positive news for housing diversity, the bylaw requiring more **two- and three-bedroom units in new apartments (I.2)** was given final adoption unanimously. **Substantial Changes to Long-Term Infrastructure and Financial Plans** Council scaled back commitments on two major infrastructure programs. The overarching **Infrastructure Renewal Program and Policy (E.1)**, which sets the policy for replacing assets, was deferred by a full year to November 2026. Similarly, the ten-year **Rural and Urban Local Road Reconstruction Program (E.12)** was not endorsed. Instead, Council passed an alternative motion approving a one-time $5 million from reserves for 2026 to begin work on roads in poor condition, referring the broader multi-year plan to the 2027 budget process. This shifts the focus from a long-term commitment to a single-year allocation for now. On the financial front, Council voted to reconsider and then give final adoption to the **2023 and 2024 Development Cost Charges (DCC) Bylaws (J.1)**, a key tool for funding growth-related infrastructure. The motion from Mayor Woodward to reduce borrowing for several capital projects, including the **208A Street and 212 Connector roadworks (P.1)**, also passed as amended. Council approved the pre-approval of a **$5.4 million retrofit for the Willoughby Booster Pump Station (E.8)**, funded primarily by DCCs, and also authorized an application for a **$125,000 grant to help fund the widening of 80 Avenue (E.5)**. For parks, Council approved a **$350,000 contribution for McLeod Athletic Park (E.7)**, amending the motion to release the funds at 50% completion rather than upon opening. Finally, it was made public that a new **$25 million concert hall at the Langley Events Centre (M.1)** will be moving forward with federal funding. **Lively Debate on Active Transportation and Public Safety** A detailed information memo on **reducing barriers for trail users (N.5)**, specifically "baffle gates," sparked a new motion from Councillor Pratt. The motion, which passed unanimously, directs staff to use alternative designs for new trails, authorizes a $135,000 pilot project to retrofit or remove existing baffle gates in the Willoughby area, and requests a report on a long-term retrofit plan. This followed a lengthy debate where Councillor Martens raised safety concerns about removing a feature that slows down fast-moving users like e-scooters before they enter roadways, while others highlighted the significant accessibility challenges the gates pose. Councillor Pratt clarified that the term "retrofit" was left intentionally flexible to allow staff to decide on a case-by-case basis whether to widen the gates or replace them with bollards. On other active transportation and safety items, the motion to extend a **30 km/h school zone on 202A Street (P.3)** passed unanimously. A development permit requiring the **protection and restoration of streamside areas (E.9)** was also approved unanimously.