Along The Fraser Can we talk with animals? p6
Bus riders pay again on SkyTrain. p10
THE NEws
Golden Team carries injured player across home. p39
www.mapleridgenews.com Friday, August 16, 2013 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · Delivery: 604-466-6397
Farmland OK’d for new road, mall City of Pitt Meadows request for n. Lougheed Connector approved by land commission by M o ni s ha M a r tin s staff reporter
A large swath of farmland in Pitt Meadows has been removed from the provincially protected agricultural land reserve paving the way for another mall. The Agricultural Land Commission approved the exclusion of 33 hectares (81 acres) of land in the North Lougheed corridor last week, with four conditions. “They have given us the green light,” said an ecstatic Mayor Deb Walters. “There is still considerable work to Walters be done in a rather short period of time but their support is the first step in moving forward.” The City of Pitt Meadows applied for exclusion last October despite protest from residents and a petition against it. See Mall, p4
Colleen Flanagan/The newS
Pitt Meadows Coun. Dave Murray opposes project to put mall on north side of Lougheed Highway.
Two Albion applications in Maple Ridge rejected Proposals were for land at 105th Ave. and Lougheed by Ne i l Co r b e t t staff reporter
Bear problem worst in Maple Ridge and Mission. See story, p12
On the same week as Pitt Meadows was hearing “yes” from the Agricultural Land Commission, Maple Ridge got a “no.” Pitt Meadows was OK’d to remove land from the Agricultural Land Reserve for a SmartCentres development, but the ALC stood by its decision to only consider removing a portion of farmland
from the ALR at Albion Flats. In late 2011, the district sent the ALC a draft plan to develop fields along the Lougheed Highway, which are bisected by 105th Avenue. The commission has said it would support development of approximately 100 acres on the east side of 105th, but not on the west – which effectively halved the developable lands. Furthermore, the commission said it would only entertain an ALR exclusion for the eastern properties if work was done to remediate flooding problems on the western properties. Regardless, two owners of the
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western properties applied to exclude their lands, for business and light industrial uses. An ALC decision received by the parties midweek denied them. Property owners John and Steve Wynnyk offered “no comment” about the failed bid. The initial reaction at the District of Maple Ridge hall was not surprise. “It seems to be consistent with what they’ve been saying all along,” said Frank Quinn, general manager of public works and development services. He added the district did not lose anything in this week’s an-
nouncements – the land to the east of 105th Avenue still will be considered for exclusion. He said the plan for that property is a mix of commercial and business uses. “Basically, it’s employment lands.” Quinn is working with developers to address drainage of the western farmland, which will include detention areas for runoff water. Then the ALC will receive the district’s application to use farm land for its project. “We’re hoping by the end of the year to have that application in,” he said. See Albion, p3
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