The City of Maple Ridge has updated its Official Community Plan (OCP) and neighbourhood plans to support the city’s focus on increasing the supply of affordable housing, and to meet provincial requirements introduced in 2024.
Having met the provincial deadline of Dec. 31 to align local government land use policies with the new housing legislation, city council is renewing its call for provincial investment into city infrastructure it says is essential for community building.
Council completed the last of a series of updates to the OCP and area plans for the key growth areas of the Town Centre, Hammond, Silver Valley, and Albion. The city says this work will help advance the its efforts to expand housing diversity and supply.
Maple Ridge is growing at twice the national average. Based on the interim Housing Needs Report, Maple Ridge will need almost 28,000 new homes by 2041.
“With these bylaw updates, we’re building our toolkit to deliver the mix of housing our community needs to thrive, along with the elements that support a high quality of life, such as green space, amenities, and the community character that makes Maple Ridge special,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy.
“This plan will succeed only through strong partnership and funding support from senior governments for schools, health care, and transportation, including Maple Ridge Moves priorities such as Abernethy Way, a new 240 Street bridge, and Bus Rapid Transit. Staff and Council have been actively advocating for these investments, and we’ll continue to be a strong voice on behalf of our residents and community.”
With the recent updates, the OCP and area plans now reflect the type, location, and amount of residential development required to meet future needs. They include new provisions for small-scale multi-unit housing – with up to six units on single-detached lots – and increased density around transit hubs.
The city’s work to increase housing is supported by investments in water, sewer and drainage, transportation, technology, parks, and other infrastructure improvements. A total of 59 projects have been completed this year or are near completion. Approximately $117 million in capital projects are planned for 2026.