North Lougheed Area Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the benefits of developing the North Lougheed Area?

  Developing the North Lougheed Area has many benefits, including:

  • Variety of housing options. Mixed-use and multi-family developments are being considered to help address the city’s housing needs.
  • Close to transit. The location allows for housing, employment, a potential post-secondary educational campus and recreational amenities—all within a five-minute walking distance to transit.
  • Space for local businesses and jobs. Economic development will be enhanced with more space for growing local businesses and sustainable jobs.
  • Increased tax base. Property taxes will be spread among a greater range of land uses and allow for enhanced services and amenities for the community.
  • Agricultural benefits, including improved safety. Traffic calming along Old Dewdney Trunk Road and diverting traffic onto the new North Lougheed Connector (NLC) will reduce traffic volumes in the agricultural area, improving safety for slower moving farm vehicles and machinery. 
  • Reduced congestion and improvements to traffic flow. Development will support the construction of the NLC. Tied to other highway improvement projects, this will reduce traffic congestion and improve traffic flow. The NLC will also provide a secondary arterial connection to north Maple Ridge.
  • Improved north/south community connectivity. In addition to the NLC, a proposed pedestrian and cyclist overpass connecting with Harris Road Park will improve community access across Lougheed Highway.
     
• What is the difference between the draft North Lougheed Area Plan prepared in 2020 and the proposed North Lougheed Area Plan prepared in 2026?

  The 2020 draft Area Plan included a range of policies and a land use plan to guide new development in the North Lougheed Area. The policies were arranged according to six guiding principles:

  1. All development should celebrate the natural, built, and cultural heritage and identity of Pitt Meadows and the North Lougheed Area.
  2. All development proposals should directly address climate change adaptation, employ greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction and green building strategies, and increase or enhance available wildlife habitat to increase the environmental resilience of the community.
  3. All development should support sustainable transportation choices.
  4. All development should contribute to the economic vitality of the community.
  5. All developments should contribute to community wellness and inclusivity.
  6. All developments should incorporate buffering, transitioning, and/or mitigation strategies to address real or perceived conflicting needs between different land uses.

  The 2026 Area Plan still embodies these principles; however, input from the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) First Nation, plus additional public feedback and technical work, has informed a revised structure and policy enhancements. The 2026 Area Plan now features:

  • New and enhanced policies that aim to recognize the historic and ongoing significance of the lands to q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) First Nation, including a proposed heritage conservation area.
  • Consolidation of other policies, and the addition of new policies, into the following sections:
    • Neighbourhood Character – policies fostering a strong neighbourhood character in the North Lougheed Area that honours the past and contributes to the city’s small-town feel.
    • Land Use – policies facilitating a variety of uses, including new housing and employment opportunities, that contribute to the city’s long-term sustainability.
    • Transportation – policies promoting a safe, multi-modal mobility network that supports active transportation and public transit.
    • Parks and Community Amenities – policies ensuring the North Lougheed Area provides for a variety of high-quality park and community amenities to support community spirit and wellbeing.
    • Agriculture – policies protecting surrounding agricultural areas from urban development within the North Lougheed Area, and encouraging opportunities for appropriately scaled agriculture and supporting uses.
    • Environment – policies conserving and enhancing natural features within the North Lougheed Area and promoting climate-resilient urban development.
    • Utility Services – policies identifying that development within the North Lougheed Area will be serviced with City water, sanitary and stormwater systems.
    • Implementation – policies outlining key implementation steps that are meant to be undertaken before development in the North Lougheed Area.

  Some 2020 policies were removed because they have since been incorporated into more recent City plans and strategies (e.g., the Climate Action Strategy) that also help to shape future development.

  A revised conceptual land use plan is also included in the 2026 Area Plan. The land use concept changes were informed by a recent commercial retail market study, market changes, further consideration of local features (e.g., watercourses and adjacent agricultural land), and more recent community engagement.

• What informed the preparation of the 2026 North Lougheed Area Plan?

  The preparation of the 2026 Area Plan was informed by:

  • The extensive planning and public engagement work undertaken in 2019 and 2020, including the Area Plan presented to Council in September 2020
  • The most recent community engagement program conducted between May 13 and June 7, 2026 
  • Further input from government agencies, interest holders and q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) First Nation
  • Policies, plans and assessments developed since 2020, including the 2022 OCP, 2023 Agricultural Viability Strategy, 2023 Active Transportation Plan, 2024 Urban Forest Strategy, 2025 Climate Action Strategy, and 2025 Complete Communities Assessment
• What has been the project timeline to date?

  The North Lougheed Area has been the subject of various planning initiatives and applications to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) since the 1980s.

  In 2011, a comprehensive land use plan was prepared for the North Lougheed Area that built on years of previous planning for the southern portion of the area. The 2011 plan identified a combination of mixed employment and retail commercial uses. 

  A commercial and industrial land study completed in 2019 for the City’s Official Community Plan (OCP) review, however, indicated that the market had changed significantly and that there was no longer a need for the amount of retail commercial space included in the 2011 plan. This meant that the 2011 plan was no longer economically viable, and a revised comprehensive land use concept was required to meet community and regional needs.

  In 2019, the City initiated a multi-phase technical review and engagement process to develop a new land use concept that built on both the previous planning work, and more recent OCP review process. Listed below are some of the key project milestones between 2018 and 2020:

  • November 2018 – Council directed staff to re-examine the project and to make recommendations on moving forward with the North Lougheed Area Plan.
  • May 2019 – A scoping report was presented to Council describing the recommended timeline for engaging the public, updating technical studies and revising the land use plan.
  • July 2019 – Staff made a Council Presentation on preliminary findings from July community engagement.
  • October 22, 2019 – Three draft land use concepts were presented to Council.
  • October 29, 2019 – A fourth draft land use concept was presented to Council.
  • May 2020 – North Lougheed Land Use Plan, land use designations and policies, and summary of Phase 2 community engagement presented to Council.
  • July 2020 -  Council endorsed the revised North Lougheed Land Use Plan and development policies that were drafted with input from extensive public and stakeholder engagement.
  • September 2020 - Council granted first and second reading to OCP Amendment for the North Lougheed Area Plan.

  A public hearing scheduled for November 5, 2020 was cancelled to accommodate further discussions and engagement with various interest holders and organizations. 

  From 2020 to 2026, the City has focused on additional technical work and collaborative planning with q̓ic̓əy̓. These efforts are intended to support early consideration of cultural context and ensure that q̓ic̓əy̓ perspectives are reflected in the Area Plan, helping to improve understanding, reduce uncertainty and avoid unintended impacts as the area develops.

  A report to Council on the North Lougheed Area Plan, including an updated draft Area Plan and recommendations for further community engagement, was presented at the May 12, 2026 Public Council Meeting. Between May 13 and June 7, residents, property owners, businesses and other interested parties were provided an opportunity to review the draft Area Plan and provide feedback to help inform potential refinements moving forward.

  • The draft Area Plan that was presented for community feedback in May 2026 is available here: Draft North Lougheed Area Plan
  • The draft Area Plan presented for community feedback in May 2026 was summarized in a two-page backgrounder, available here: Draft North Lougheed Area Plan Backgrounder

  A report on the North Lougheed Area Plan, including a summary of the most recent community engagement and proposed refinements to the Area Plan, was presented to Council at the July 14, 2026 Engagement & Priorities Committee meeting. 
   

• How is the community being consulted?

  Over the years, there have been many rounds of community engagement for the North Lougheed Area Plan, including a public hearing in 2012, before the City applied to the Agricultural Land Commission to exclude the remaining part of the area from the Agricultural Land Reserve. 

  More recent community engagement has included:

  • Summer 2019 - Feedback was collected from the community and stakeholders both online and at several engagement pop-up events throughout the summer.
  • November 2019 to February 2020 - Using the information and ideas received in summer 2019, four NLSA draft land use concepts were developed and shared with the public for input online and at engagement events.

  In May 2020, a summary of the 2019-2020 public and stakeholder engagement was presented to Council along with the North Lougheed Land Use Plan, land use designations and policies.

  Between May 13 and June 7, residents, property owners, businesses and other interested parties were provided an opportunity to review the draft Area Plan and provide feedback to help inform potential refinements moving forward. A summary of this community engagement and the feedback received is available here: Community Engagement Summary (July 2026)

• When was the North Lougheed Area excluded from the Agricultural Land Reserve?

  The North Lougheed Area has been the subject of various Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) approvals since the 1980s. With reference to the areas shown in the figure below:

  • Area 1 is not located in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR)
  • Area 2 has been conditionally excluded from the ALR through ALC approvals in 1985 and 2004
  • Area 3 has been conditionally excluded from the ALR through an ALC approval in 2013

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  The alignment for the proposed North Lougheed Connector Road (partly shown in the figure above) was approved by the ALC in 2010. This road would provide a connection between Harris Road and Golden Ears Way, which would enable traffic calming along Old Dewdney Trunk Road and enhance road safety in the agricultural area. With the support of the City’s Agricultural Advisory Committee, the City subsequently applied to exclude Area 3 from the ALR to facilitate development opportunities that could help fund construction of the North Lougheed Connector.

  As part of its review of the 2013 exclusion application for Area 3, the ALC considered the relationship between the proposed North Lougheed Connector Road, associated traffic management measures on Old Dewdney Trunk Road and the potential benefits to agricultural operations in the surrounding area. Consistent with these considerations, the ALC's 2013 approval included conditions requiring the substantial commencement and firm commitment to completion of the North Lougheed Connector Road, as well as the development of a traffic calming plan for Old Dewdney Trunk Road (west of Sharpe Road) acceptable to the ALC, with implementation to commence as soon as possible following completion of the Connector Road.

  As indicated in the ALC's meeting minutes related to its 2013 approval for exclusion:

  “The Commission concluded that in this case the paramount criterion is encouraging farming on agricultural land in collaboration with other communities of interest through enabling traffic calming on Old Dewdney Trunk Road. The City of Pitt Meadows, through its plans, bylaws and policies has enabled and accommodated farm use of agricultural land and uses compatible with agriculture. Enabling farming to operate effectively in a substantial area of Pitt Meadows outweighs the need to preserve farmland in the much smaller area to the south of the North Lougheed Connector Road and west of Meadow Gardens Golf Course.”

  The conditions of the 2013 approval also include the consolidation of land and covenants to protect agricultural land north of the North Lougheed Connector Road. As identified in the draft North Lougheed Area Plan, satisfaction of the ALC exclusion conditions is identified as an implementation step to be completed prior to development within the area.

• What is the North Lougheed Connector?

  The proposed 2-kilometre North Lougheed Connector (NLC) is required by the Agricultural Land Commission as part of their conditional approval and will provide a direct link from Golden Ears Way to the Lougheed Highway, at Harris Road. The NLC is intended to:

  • allow for traffic calming on Old Dewdney Trunk Road to make it safer for area residents and slower moving farm vehicles and machinery; and
  • provide a secondary traffic corridor to north Maple Ridge.

  City staff are working with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit and TransLink to determine how the NLC will connect to Golden Ears Way and to Lougheed Highway west of Harris Road. This work is anticipated to be tied to other highway improvement projects to improve traffic flow in the area.

• What type of development is being proposed for the area?

  The North Lougheed Area Plan is anticipated to guide the creation of a complete neighbourhood development that incorporates a mix of public green spaces, cultural heritage, and residential, commercial and employment uses. The vision for the North Lougheed Area is an inclusive, connected and resilient neighbourhood that acknowledges q̓ic̓əy̓, fosters a small-town feel, and provides opportunities to live, work, play and learn.

• How is the City advocating and planning for transportation improvements?

  The City will continue to advocate for transportation improvements that support the whole community, including improvements to the Lougheed Highway and Harris Road intersection and the separation of road and rail traffic at the Harris Road rail crossing. The City will also continue to work with transportation partners on these improvements and their potential benefits for traffic flow, safety and community connectivity. 

  For more information, see the City’s Pitt Meadows Road and Rail Improvements Project and the Province of BC’s Highway 7 – Harris Improvements project page.

  As part of transportation and servicing planning during implementation of the North Lougheed Area Plan, the City will work with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit to identify opportunities for additional vehicle access to and from Lougheed Highway between Harris Road and Park Road / Meadow Gardens Way. The timing, location and design of any future access will be subject to further planning and technical analysis, as well as coordination with the Ministry.

• How are schools and healthcare services planned for the North Lougheed Area?

  Many community services, including schools and healthcare facilities, are planned, funded and delivered by other agencies and levels of government rather than the City. The City will continue to work collaboratively with these partners and share information about planned growth and community needs to help support the long-term provision of services for the North Lougheed Area.

• Are high rise towers proposed for the area?

  Most new residential buildings are expected to range between three and six storeys in height. Buildings in this height range are generally more economical to construct than taller buildings, which require different construction methods. 

  At the same time, buildings over six storeys in height may be considered in some areas where they can be appropriately integrated with surrounding development. Any such buildings would be expected to respond to considerations around privacy, views, shading, and surrounding land use sensitivities. Taller buildings could take advantage of prominent views of the surrounding landscape, while also reducing the per capita costs of infrastructure and services.

  Building heights in the study area are limited to a maximum of 45.7m (150 feet) above the elevation of the Pitt Meadows Airport runway, due to federal flight path safety restrictions. Ground floors of the buildings must meet the City’s Floodplain Designation and Construction Control Bylaw elevation requirements. Together, these regulations restrict the maximum height of future development.

• When will development in the North Lougheed Area start?

  Following the completion of the North Lougheed Area Plan, a number of additional steps will be required before development proceeds within the area, including an amendment to the Regional Growth Strategy and the satisfaction of the various Agricultural Land Commission exclusion conditions. Refer to the Implementation section of the proposed North Lougheed Area Plan for additional details.

  Development within the area will also require that property owners submit the necessary development applications for the City’s review. Please see the City’s Property Development webpage for more information about development application processes. 

• What is the difference between the North Lougheed Study Area (NLSA) and the North Lougheed Area Plan (NLAP)?

  The North Lougheed Study Area (NLSA) generally refers to the area that is being considered for future development through the preparation of the North Lougheed Area Plan (NLAP). The term “North Lougheed Study Area” generally reflects past terminology for the project. For improved clarity moving forward, the City will be using the terms “North Lougheed Area” to refer to the lands and the “North Lougheed Area Plan” to refer to the community planning project.